1. Sustainable rural development through organic production encouragement in state and local strategies in Bulgaria
Organic production creates strong connections between rural and urban areas and has great social and financial benefits for both. The main problem is to create the right framework for this joint development. The organic agricultural activities in the country are mostly implemented by small and medium enterprises and farmers. That way they could not reach the levels needed for gaining market advantages. The market opportunities are big but the risks are even bigger. The profit in agricultural sector is low as a principle and this impedes the production increase. It is necessary an agricultural system to be established which to support the close connections to producers and to improve the innovation activities.
Now, when we are on the way to the new program period and when data were already collected and analyzed in order to make the new strategic and program documents, the question if these data and analyses were objective or enough is very important. This paper presents a qualitative assessment rather that a quantitative. It proposes a simple method of identification of the most problematic fields which should be paid attention to when formulating strategic priorities and goals. Although in progress organic production is not enough for the moment to give the needed rise in rural development. The regions and municipalities’ support especially in respect to providing information and motivation is crucial in this process. The state should create the favorable environment – permanently updated legislation and policies, information campaigns, opportunities for training, research, technology transfer, good practices exchange, effective control with an accent on risks’ evaluation and prevention, etc. The encouragement of entrepreneurship in organic farming is closely connected to encouragement measures in processing industry.
The development of organic production in the county should be connected to alternative tourism development too providing the great opportunities for this integrated development.
The main problems could be formulated as follows: current strategic documents and key structures in private, state and non-governmental sectors lack coordination. Furthermore they are far away from the problems of organic producers, processors and traders and all this results in all the inadequate measures of support. First, organic stakeholders should unite and collaborate by networking – something that is not well understood in the country and underestimated for now.
SWOT-analyses of rural development through organic production encouragement
Strengths
Points
(1-10)
Weaknesses
Macroeconomic stability 8
Negative demographic processes
Legislative and strategic framework
Uneven distribution of towns in the regions 7
EU programs participation 6
Significant differences in social and economic development of the municipalities in the regions
Natural and climatic conditions 9
Old production technologies
Traditions and image
Low local and foreign investments
Human resources
Bad connection science-business
Network of protected areas, rich biodiversity, natural and cultural heritage, conserved identity of regions
High fragmentariness of arable agricultural land 5
Comparatively good infrastructure and key position of the country
Low level of motivation
Education and training
Low development of processing industry
Natural and anthropogenic tourist resources
High export of raw materials
Opportunities
Threats
Funding priorities in the new program period
Continuing negative impacts of the financial and economic crisis
Regional collaboration programs
Politic instability and decreased attractiveness for investments
Construction of new transport corridors
Increased competitive pressure
Support for clusters
Low level of development of rural areas
Tourism development
Abandonment of rural areas
Demand for healthy products
Negative impacts of globalization and climatic changes
Access to new knowledge and innovative technology
Improper implementation of strategic and program documents
Achievement of sustainable development
Ineffective use of EU funding
Connecting urban demand with rural areas development
Industrial and other wastes pollution
Entering new markets
Improper use of natural resources
Figure 2. Evaluation of the implementation of strategic goals
I. Achieving sustainable development and competitive economy
II. Building quality infrastructure
III. Providing quality education and scientific research activities
IV. Creating favorable business environment
V. Increasing competitiveness of agriculture, food industry and forestry
VI. Protection natural resources and improving natural environment
VII. Increasing employment opportunities and improving life quality in rural regions
VIII. Protecting bio and landscape diversity
IX. Overcoming intra and inter regional differences and achieving balanced territorial development
X. Coordination and synchronization of sector policies with regional development policies
Figure 4. Evaluation of organic production development in connection to rural development
Organic production as a way of achieving sustainable rural growth could be determined in the three main aspects of sustainable development as follows:
economic sustainability – increasing competitiveness, string market orientation and increased incomes;
social sustainability – bigger responsibility towards consumers’ demands, improving food quality and safety; regional development;
ecologic sustainability – unified framework, effective implementation and control, standards of protection of environment and health.
Figure 3. Evaluation of organic production development in connection to rural development
I. Soil & climatic conditions, natural resources
II. Financial, material and labor resources
III. Level of environmental protection
IV. Processing industry, tourism, trade
V. Legislation, policies and strategies
VI. Social and demographic processes
VII. Even regional development
VIII. Education and vocational training
IX. Science and technology
X. Administration, extended services
Ekaterina Arabska
University of Agribusiness and Rural Development – Plovdiv, Bulgaria