Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 20 ISSUE 3
Written by Julia DOITCHINOVA, Albena MITEVA

The paper studied the impact of agriculture on rural development. The emphasis is on the changes in the development of agriculture in the conditions of Bulgaria's membership in the EU and on their impacts on the economic, social and environmental indicators for the status and development of the rural areas. The object of analysis is the South Central Planning Region of Bulgaria (BG42) at the NUTS-2 level. This study employed mixed quantitative and qualitative research design. The quantitative part presupposes the presentation and analysis of statistics on agriculture and rural development at the level of planning region, district and rural area (municipality) in the period of EU membership (2007-2017). Qualitative methods include the use of the experts evaluation method and in-depth interviews with 25 specialists from the regional office “Agriculture” and the regional office of the National Agricultural Advisory System. The conclusions of the analysis reveal that the model of agriculture in the study area is close to the characteristics of the Southern model of agriculture in Europe. Evidence for the more favorable effects of the emerging model of agriculture on rural development compared to other regions in the country (especially the three northern ones) are the slower migration processes, lower unemployment rates in some municipalities and etc.

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