Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry

Agroforestry is a multifunctional, environmentally-friendly and modern system of land use by which we can reach economic, environmental and social benefits for the society. Bulgaria has achieved good results in the establishment of agroforestry practices, such as: protective forest belts, forest farming (agricultural use of forest areas), silvopasture (forest-grassland complexes). Moreover there are also legal basis and political understanding for promoting these types of systems. Missing, however, entire Concept and Strategy of supporting the development of agroforestry in the country. There is a strong need for the introduction and elaboration of best practices and new agroforestry technologies in the country where agricultural areas cover 47 % and forest areas 37 % from the territory. As a modern form of land use, agroforestry is a viable alternative for providing good income for land owners in many areas of the country, particularly these which livelihood are formed by a tobacco-production. Agroforestry can pushed up agricultural returns by diversification of production and can give many ecological and social benefits for society. The perspectives are targeted at the production of forest fruit tree species with high value tree timber, and forest farming.

During previous four years (2005-2008), the natural enemies (pests and pathogens) of Lilium rhodopaeum Delip. in Rodopa Mountain was studied. The phytosanitary status of its habitats was assessed and determined. The investigated populations were stable and showed slow-steady increasing during the years of monitoring. In general, phytosanitary status was good enough except for Tzigansko gradishte where more attention was considered to this rare species and some measures were applied to preserve it. All investigated populations of Lilium rhodopaeum Delip. suffered from the same problems, the plants were attacked by pests (grasshoppers and beetles) and pathogens (grey mold).

Bulgaria has complicated systems for food quality and food safety control. Responsibility for them is divided among several institutions. The control system is still overstaffed and insufficient co-ordination between its different parts prevail; the current control system does not meet the requirements of the new EU approach: traceability and transparency. In the last years the improvement of food quality and food safety systems in Bulgaria has been substantial - both from legislative and institutional point of view. In the process of accession Bulgarian legislation in this sphere already complies with EU regulation. Origin-labeled products is considered as an important element of food quality and food safety control systems. The legislation for organic farming, quality wines and alcoholic drinks is almost fully harmonised with the EU requirements. Important improvement has been made also with the adoption of ordinance for TSG.</o:p>

After giving an account of the landslide changes that are occurring in Eastern Europe, this paper describes the necessary goals of agricultural reforms. In the chapter on the support given to these reforms by the EC, there is a section on the political goals of support, on cooperation within the private sector and on official support. The latter includes technical cooperation for the transfer of knowhow, capital aid through the supply of inputs, and trade concessions. The trade and cooperation agreements concluded from 1988 to 1991 are intended to be replaced by more comprehensive agreements of association. An annex reviews the support of the EC to agriculture and to the food industry of seven East European countries.