Rural Development in the Context of Agricultural Models: Evidence from Bulgaria

This article analyzes the changes in the agricultural sector over a ten-year period and their impacts on rural areas. Based on the derived characteristics of the Southern and Northern models of agriculture in the various statistical regions, several hypotheses about their effects are tested. The drawn conclusions are based on the analysis of statistical information and qualitative assessments of more than 160 experts from all areas of the country. The predominant part of the analysis reveals the results of the implemented measures from the Program for Development of Rural Areas of Bulgaria (2014–2020) and the attitudes of farmers to apply agro-ecological practices, to make a transition to organic farming, to make direct sales from their farms, and to diversify the activity, etc. It is concluded that the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy is the cause of the accelerated adverse changes in the socio-economic characteristics of the regions with predominant Northern agriculture. As a result we observe a relatively faster decrease in population, deterioration of qualitative educational and age characteristics and of ecological footprint. These trends are relatively less pronounced in the South-Central and South-West regions, where the importance of small family farms is significantly greater.