Technical meeting for LFA in BulgariaMINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY National Program for Rural Development in Bulgaria - 2007-2013

Bonn, GermanyJune 2007

General information Territory: total area 110,910 km2 Agricultural land: 50.7% of the total territory Forests cover 33.1% of the total territory Utilized agricultural land: 5.3 million ha (48 % of country territory) 4% of the UAA are perennial crops 34% of the UAA is grassland

Geographical scope of the measuresPriority Axis 1 the whole country;Priority Axis 2 different scope depending on the type of the measures;Priority Axis 3 rural areas;Priority Axis 4 at local level for implementation of the local development strategies in rural areas

Proposal for a financial allocation by priority Axes in the NSP 2007-2013

Proposal for measuresAxis 1

Measures aimed at improving human potential:Vocational training and informational actions for persons engaged in the agricultural and forestry sectors;Setting up of young farmers;Use of advisory services by farmers and forest holders

Measures aimed at restructuring physical potential:Modernization of agricultural holdings;Improving the economic value of forests;Adding value to agricultural and forestry products;Cooperation for development of new products, processes and technologies in the agriculture and food sector and in the forestry sector;Improving and developing infrastructure related to the development and adaptation of agriculture and forestry.

Transitional measures for new member states:Semi subsistence farming;Setting up of producer groups;

Proposal for measuresAxis 2

Measures targeting the sustainable use of agricultural land:

Natural handicap payments to farmers in mountain areas;Payments to farmers in areas with handicaps, other than mountain areas;Payments under Natura 2000 for agricultural lands Agri-environmental payments;

Criteria for LFA in Bulgaria following the technical meetings with EC1. Mountain LFA sTBS, which have: an average altitude over 700 m. an average slope over 20 % (11.3) a combination of the both factors: an average altitude between 500 and 700m, and an average slope over 15% (8.3) homogenization: at least 75% of the borders to be surrounded by mountain LF defined by the first 3 criteria

According to these criteria 1744 are mountainous TBS, 969 under the altitude criteria(over 600m)632 under the slope criteria of the territory (over 11.3) 85 under the combination criteria58 under the principle of homogeneity

They cover 38,70% of the territory of the country and 23,92% of the Agricultural Land Fund

Other LFAsTBS with low soil fertility the average weighted category of the agricultural land in the TBS is higher than 6 (average for the country is 5,3)

According to this criteria were defined - 552 TBS with low soil fertility

Other LFAs cover 9,43% of the territory of the country and 9,73% of the Agricultural Land Fund

Proposal for measuresAxis 2

b) Measures targeting the sustainable use of forestry land:

First afforistation of non-agricultural land;Restoring forestry potential and introducing prevention actionsPayments under Natura 2000 for forests

Proposal for measures Axis 3Measures to diversify the rural economy:Diversification into non-agricultural activities; Encouragement of Tourism Activities;Support for the Creation and Development of Micro-Enterprises

b) Measures to improve the quality of life in rural areas:Basic services for the economy and rural population;Village renewal and development;

Proposal for measures Axis 4

Implementation of the local development strategies;Inter-Territorial and Trans-National Cooperation ;Running Costs, Acquisition of Skills and Animation.

Thank you for your attention!

Vyara STEFANOVAMinistry of Agriculture and Forestry Agri-Environment DepartmentPhone: ++ 359 2 98511 408Fax: ++ 359 2 980 38 54E-mail: v.stefanova@mzgar.government.bg