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Smallholder Farms in Bulgaria and Their Contributions to Food and Social Security

Author

Listed:
  • Lena Fredriksson

    (Swedish National Audit Office (Riksrevisionen), 102 33 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Marian Rizov

    (Lincoln International Business School, University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN6 7TS, UK)

  • Sophia Davidova

    (School of Economics, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NP, UK)

  • Alastair Bailey

    (School of Economics, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NP, UK)

Abstract

Bulgaria has a long tradition of smallholder farming, predominantly producing for self-consumption. As a result of land reform and farm restructuring, many rural households received agricultural land. Some developed commercial farms but most households stayed as subsistence farmers and used their small pieces of land to produce for self-consumption and market the excess output to top up their non-farm incomes or meagre pensions. They had little capital and insecure access to markets. The paper employs semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 10 smallholders for obtaining detailed information about individuals’ behaviour and exploring issues in greater detail. In particular, the study looks at the drivers of the diverse strategies pursued by smallholder farms, their importance for household food security and incomes, and the prospects of smallholder farms in the future, especially the possibilities for productivity increases. The Bulgarian study on contemporary smallholder farms shows that subsistence production constitutes a valuable safety net for households with low incomes, and therefore, it acts as an extension of the limited social security system of the country. Despite all the challenges faced by smallholders, half of the interviewed households succeeded to commercialise and increase marketable surplus. Policies for increased commercialisation of smallholder farms and a structural change in agriculture should address, besides market factors, the socioeconomic aspects which contribute to the persistence of subsistence farming. Furthermore, when prioritising different policies, the chosen livelihood strategies of the households should be taken into account.

Suggested Citation

  • Lena Fredriksson & Marian Rizov & Sophia Davidova & Alastair Bailey, 2021. "Smallholder Farms in Bulgaria and Their Contributions to Food and Social Security," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-14, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:14:p:7635-:d:590671
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Philip Kostov & John Lingard, 2004. "Subsistence Agriculture in Transition Economies: Its Roles and Determinants," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(3), pages 565-579, November.
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    8. Sophia Davidova, 2011. "Semi‐Subsistence Farming: An Elusive Concept Posing Thorny Policy Questions," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(3), pages 503-524, September.
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    10. Swinnen, Johan F.M. & Vandeplas, Anneleen, 2007. "From Public to Private Governance of Agri-food Supply Chains in Transition Countries: Some Theoretical and Empirical Lessons," 104th Seminar, September 5-8, 2007, Budapest, Hungary 8521, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lilian Korir & Marian Rizov & Eric Ruto, 2023. "Diet diversity, malnutrition and health: Evidence from Kenya," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 74(2), pages 534-550, June.
    2. Valentina Constanta Tudor & Toma Adrian Dinu & Marius Vladu & Dragoș Smedescu & Ionela Mituko Vlad & Eduard Alexandru Dumitru & Cristina Maria Sterie & Carmen Luiza Costuleanu, 2022. "Labour Implications on Agricultural Production in Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-22, July.

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