A Study on Sustainability of Unregistered Agricultural Holdings in Bulgaria

Research Article

Ann Agric Crop Sci. 2017; 2(1): 1022.

A Study on Sustainability of Unregistered Agricultural Holdings in Bulgaria

Bachev H*

Department of Agriculture, Institute of Agricultural Economics, Bulgaria

*Corresponding author: Bachev H, Department of Agriculture, Institute of Agricultural Economics, Sofia, Bulgaria

Received: February 07, 2017; Accepted: April 03, 2017; Published: April 11, 2017

Abstract

The issue of adequate assessment of diverse aspects of sustainability of agricultural holdings is among the most topical academic and practical problems around the globe. In Bulgaria there have been no comprehensive studies on socio-economic and environmental sustainability of unregistered farms accounting the majority of all holdings in the country. In this article we employ a holistic framework and assess sustainability of unregistered agricultural holdings in Bulgaria. Initially method of the study is outlined. After that an assessment is made of integral, governance, economic, social, environmental sustainability of unregistered agricultural farms in general and of different size, production specialization, ecological and geographical location as well as on their comparative sustainability in relations to other type of farms in the country. Finally, directions for further research and amelioration of sustainability assessment practices are suggested.

Keywords: Unregistered farms; Sustainability; Governance; Economic; Social; Environmental aspects

Introduction

Around the glove the issue of adequate assessment of diverse aspects of sustainability of farms of different type is among the most topical academic and practical matters [1-15]. Nevertheless, in Bulgaria practically there are no comprehensive studies on sustainability of dominating unregistered holdings (Natural Persons) at current stage of development. The latter account for almost 98% of all farms in the country, cultivate a third of all farmlands, graze 85% of cows, 90% of sheep, and around a third of pigs, and employ almost 93% of workforce in the sectors [16].

This article applies a holistic framework for assessing sustainability of Bulgarian farms, and evaluates absolute and comparative sustainability of holdings of natural persons with different size, product specialization, and ecological and geographical location.

Methodology

Farm sustainability characterizes the ability (internal potential, incentives, comparative advantages, importance, efficiency) of a particular farm to maintain its governance, economic, social and ecological functions in a long-term in the specific socio-economic and natural environment in which it functions and evolves [4,5]. Depending on combination of all four dimensions, sustainability of a particular farm could be high, good, unsatisfactory, or farm is unsustainable.

Farm sustainability has for aspects (“pillars”), which are equally important and always have to be taken into account:

- governance sustainability - to have good or high absolute and comparative efficiency in organization and management of activity and (internal and external) relations of the farm, and a high adaptability to evolving socio-economic and natural environment, according to specific preferences (type of enterprise, character of production, long-term goals, etc.) and capabilities (education, experience, available resources, connections, power positions, etc.) of owners of the enterprise;

- economic sustainability - to have good or high productivity of deployed natural, labor, material and financial resources, sufficient (“acceptable”) economic efficiency and competitiveness, and needed financial stability of activity;

- social sustainability - to have good or high social responsibility in regard to farmers, hired labor, other agents, communities, and consumers, and contribute to preservation of agrarian resources and traditions, amelioration of wellbeing and life style of farm households, and development of rural communities and the society as a whole;

- environmental sustainability - to have good or high eco-efficiency of activity, which is to associated with necessary conservation, recovery and improvement of components of natural environment (landscape, lands, waters, biodiversity, atmosphere, climate, ecosystem services, etc.) and the nature as a whole, respecting welfare of farm and wild animals, etc.

The hierarchical levels, which facilitate the formulation of the system for assessing the sustainability of Bulgarian farms, include well determined and selected aspects (pillars), principles, criteria, indicators and reference values (Figure 1). Principles are the highest hierarchical level associated with the multiple functions of the agricultural farms. They are universal and represent the states of the sustainability, which are to be achieved in the four main aspects -governance, economic, social and ecological. For instance, a principle “the soil fertility is maintained or improved” in the ecological aspect of the farm sustainability. Criteria are more precise from the principles and easily linked with the sustainability indicators. They represent a resulting state of the evaluated farm when the relevant principle is realized. For instance, a criteria “soil erosion is minimized” for the principle “the soil fertility is maintained or improved”. Indicators are quantitative and qualitative variables of different type (behavior, activity, input, effect, impact, etc.), which can be assessed in the specific conditions of the evaluated farms, and allow to measure the compliance with a particular criteria. The set of indicators is to provide a representative picture for the farm sustainability in all its aspects. For instance, an indicator “the extent of application of good agro-techniques and crop rotation” for the criteria “soil erosion is minimized”. Finally, reference value are the desirable levels (absolute, relative, qualitative, etc.) for each indicator for the specific conditions of the evaluated farms. They assist the assessment of the sustainability level and give guidance for achieving (maintaining, improving) sustainability of the farm. They are determined by the science, experimentation, statistical, legislative or other appropriate ways.