Improvement of National Strategic Framework in Organic Production and Management in the Republic of Bulgaria

Abstract

The study examines organic sector development in the Republic of Bulgaria, as a sector showing significant growth in last ten years, in the context of its potential and contribution for sustainable rural development. Identification and analyses of the main factors in organic farming development reveal its positive characteristics but also underline the main problems in its development in the country as: lack of information, communication and coordination between stakeholders in the country; spontaneous and unsubstantiated management decisions in organic holdings; lack of strategic planning on all the levels (national, local and organizational). Lead by the implication that sector development should be first encouraged and shaped by appropriate state policies and strategies, the paper makes proposals for new instruments and approaches in the strategic planning on the national level accenting business environment, institutional support and administrative activities, production peculiarities, marketing realities, knowledge and advisory services’ needs, information provision and motivation.

Keywords: sustainable development, rural regions, strategic planning

JEL Classification: P00, O10