Increasing the Sustainable Managed Agriculture Land in Bulgaria

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Description

Organic agriculture shows steady growth during the last three years. In spite of the increased interest in it the experience of Bioselena Foundation indicates that many farmers hesitate to convert to organic agriculture. The main reason is the absence of government support. Another important reason is the expectation of poor crop, because of luck of organic manure. There are only few existing organic stock-farms in Bulgaria, which can’t solve that problem, all the more that they are threatened with extinction because of luck of organic fodder. On the market there are organic fertilizers, but they are very expensive and their usage is reasonable only in case of intensive growing of crops such as vegetables.

In case the project is not realized organic agriculture will enter more slowly in Bulgaria. Organic land under crop is at risk to diminish, which will result in further pollution of soils and waters and in shortage of habitats of protected spices. The project solves the problem mentioned above by testing and putting into practice of six innovative technologies for organic cultivation of crops without usage of manure on 130 ha land. As a result of partnering with FIBL Bioselena Foundation has at its disposal the technologies needed for the realization of the project. The team of the foundation is trained in their implementation. It has a sound experience in organic cultivation. Thereby the model set is expected to be successful.

The main goal of the project is the enlargement of the sustainable managed agricultural land. The specific objectives set are:

1. Extension of the sustainable managed areas under crop with 130 ha at least;
2. Testing of 6 innovative technologies in the field of sustainable management of agriculture land under Bulgarian actualities and their implementation in 15 farms;
3. Multiplication of the results by description, analysis, summarizing and dissemination of the results obtained, which reaches 800 farmers.

The project will be put into effect on the land of the village of Dabovitsa, municipality of Sungurlare, district of Burgas, where Bio Bulgaria Co-operative has rented 600 hectares land, which has been certified as organic in the year 2005. The Co-operative cultivates only 90 hectares of it, because as plant-growing the farm faces difficulties in dunging. The cultivation will be done without manure or compost. Crop-rotation with as minimum 50% leguminous plants included, higher share of autumn crops in comparison with spring crops and minimum machining for avoiding soil destruction caused by wind will be used instead. In the course of two years 130 hectares of land will be cultivated according the above mentioned new technologies, of which 20 ha will be sown to rye, 20 ha – to triticale, 20 ha – to maize, 20 ha – to beans, 20 ha – peas and 30 ha – to lucerne. The test will be carried out on a sizable area and will be repeated for representational results to be achieved.

Expected Outcomes

Achievements: Results and Impact

Lessons for Replication

TYPE LESSONS HERE

References

See also

1. Transfer of Environmentally Sound Technologies (TEST) to Reduce Transboundary Pollution in the Danube River Basin
2. Strengthening the Implementation Capacities for Nutrient Reduction and Transboundary Cooperation in the Danube River Basin
3. JICA Study Integrated Environmental Management in Maritsa/Maritza Basin in Bulgaria
4. International Black Sea Day
5. Integrated River Basin Management in the Maritsa River Basin
6. Country Evaluation: Bulgaria Assessment of Development Results
7. Control of eutrophication, hazardous substances and related measures for rehabilitating the Black Sea ecosystem
8. Capacity and Community Building for Industrial Water Stewardship in the Danube/Black Sea region
9. Bulgaria, Freshwater Country Profile
10. Bulgaria - PILOT PROJECT FOR INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING OF THE TRANSBOUNDARY RIVER TUNDZHA BASIN AS A SUB-BASIN OF THE TRANSBOUNDARY RIVER MARITSA BASIN
11. Bulgaria - IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DIRECTIVE 2000/60/EU FOR IDENTIFYING, INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING OF THE TRANSBOUNDARY GROUNDWATER BODIES IN THE EAST AEGEAN REGION
12. Building national and local adaptation capacity to extreme water events in Bulgaria

External Resources

Attachments