A round table on the State and Opportunities for Development of Small Farming in Bulgaria was held on February 23, 2017 in the Press Centre of the Plovdiv International Fair. It was organized by the Land Source of Income Foundation, the Department of Economics at Agricultural University – Plovdiv and the Entrepreneurship Centre at Technical University – Sofia, Plovdiv Branch. It was the 12th issue of this annual event.

The meeting was opened by the Deputy Regional Governor of Plovdiv Region Vladimir Petrov. On behalf of the District Government he declared support for the small agricultural businesses and their development.

The Chairman of the Board of trustees of the Land Source of Income Foundation – Prof. Ivan Penov presented the main activities of the Foundation, focusing on the Roma Income Generation and Integration Project, funded by Trust for Social Achievement.

At the meeting Mrs. Adelina Stoyanova, State Expert at the Direct Payments Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, reported on the support provided to farmers through direct payments as a result of the reformed CAP through the 2015 and 2016 Campaigns. She presented the changes and novelties regarding the direct payments for 2017.

Mrs. Milena Nalbantova from the National Agricultural Advisory Service presented the opportunities for support of small farms under the Rural Development Program (RDP) 2014-2020, and the support provided to farmers by the National Agricultural Advisory Service.

Representatives of the Rodopi Local Action Group in Peroushtitsa made a presentation on the opportunities for small farms support through the local action groups.

The meeting ended with a discussion where experts responded to questions related to the most common problems, dwelled on specific opportunities for support for small farmers in the new 2014-2020 planning period, the role of municipalities and state institutions, non-governmental organizations and educational institutions for the successful small farming.

Round Table Materials (Coming Soon):

• The activities of the Land – Source of Income Foundation in support of small farmers in 2016 were presented by Prof. Ivan Penov, Chairman of the Board of trustees of the ESoI Foundation.
• Direct payments 2017 – Ms Adelina Stoyanova – State Expert at the Direct Payments Directorate at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
• Opportunities for support of small agricultural farms under the Rural Development Program (RDP) 2014-2020 by the National Agricultural Advisory Service – Ms. Milena Nalbantova – National Agricultural Advisory Service.