Framework for Assessing the Governance Pillar of Agrarian Sustainability

Abstract

In many other countries, there are no comprehensive systems for assessment of the governance sustainability of agriculture and its importance for the overall agrarian development. This study tries to fill the gap and suggests a holistic framework for understanding and assessing governance sustainability. The newly elaborated approach is “tested” in a large-scale study for assessing the governance sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture. The study has proved that it is important to include the “missing” Governance Pillar in the assessment of the Integral sustainability of agriculture and sustainability of agro-systems of various types. Assessment of the Governance sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture indicates that the Overall Governance Sustainability is at a “Good” but close to the “Satisfactory” level. There is considerable differentiation in the level of Integral Governance sustainability of different agro-systems in the country. Results on the integral agrarian sustainability assessment based on micro (farm) and macro (statistical, etc.) data show some discrepancies which have to be taken into consideration, while assessment indicators, methods and data sources improved.

Keywords: governance sustainability, assessment, agriculture, agricultural systems, Bulgaria

JEL Classification: Q12, Q18, Q56