A study on еco-management in agricultural farms with high eco-activity

Hrabrin Bachev, Dimitar Vanev

Abstract: This paper presents the results of a large-scale study on forms, factors, and efficiency of eco-management in Bulgarian agricultural farms of different juridical type, size, specialization, and location. Diverse (internal, private, contract, market, formal, informal, hybrid etc.) forms of eco-management in agricultural farms are analysed, different (ideological, economic, market, social etc.) factors of eco-management in farms are specified, costs, effects, efficiency and perspectives of eco-management in farms are clarified. The majority of eco-active farms know and implement well the principles of environmentally-friendly agriculture. Officially certified organic production and informal modes (naturally ecologically clean production or established reputation for ecologically clean products) are most commonly used forms of eco-management, while other private and market modes (own or collective eco-label, protected origin,etc., and provision of eco and related services) are less employed. To the greatest extent eco-activity of farms is stimulated by the personal conviction and satisfaction of the farmers from eco-activity, participation in the public support programs, received direct public subsidies, professional eco-training of the farmer and the hired labor, market competition, access to the farm and eco-advices, possibilities to increase profit, co-benefits for your farm in the longer-term, and European Union policies. The biggest impact on farms have been caused by the professional training and advices, agro-environmental payments and natural handicap payments to farmers in mountain areas, direct area-based payments and the national tops ups for products, livestock, etc., and support to young farmers, semi-subsistence farming, and modernization of agricultural holdings. For the majority of the eco-active farms, their environment protection activity is associated with the augmentation of the economic and ecological efficiency of their holdings, and that is mostly in average extent. However, that activity is connected with a high augmentation of long-term investments, the overall production costs, the expenditures for registration, tests, certification, etc., and the specialized costs for the conservation of natural environment. In future I is to be expended public support to eco-active farms (through training, information, funding, partnership, preferences, etc.), which would induce (implement, demonstrate advantages, inspire and involve others, etc.) the overall improvement of the agro-eco-management in the country.

Keywords: eco-management; eco-management forms; farming; organic farming

Date published: 2017-10-03