11Economics of Agriculture SI - 1 UDK: 502.131.1(497.2)
VEGETAL AGROBIODIVERSITY IN THE ECONOMIC DYNAMICS OF BULGARIA
Mariana BRAN1, Kolyo VASILEV2, Bojidar KOLEV3, Stefania Daniela BRAN4
Abstract
In the context of the current world crisis and the global climatic changes, Bulgarian agricultural and rural food economy is based on the sustainable preservation and management of natural resources and biodiversity in compliance with the European research field. Biodiversity as a complex interaction on Terra comprises living organisms and social and economic systems to which such is connected. In economic point of view are of significance cultivated species liable for the assurance of the necessary food to the population. The agricultural production is performed both traditionally and conventionally, in agricultural units of varied types. Such removed sugar-beet from the list of cultivated species due to the high level of production expenses for setting up and maintenance, the non-stimulating prices offered by processors, the dropping of the price on the world market and the cheap imports of unrefined raw sugar. The structure of cultures is dominated by cereals due to the economic interest manifested not only by small-size exploitations. Their technical outfit and high costs to assure the inputs influence the yields per hectare.
Key-words: biodiversity, vegetal species, production, economy, agriculture
1 PhD Mariana BRAN, Professor, Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, Faculty of Agri-Food and Environmental Economics, Str. Piata Romana nr. 6, Bucuresti, Romania, mariana_bran2004@yahoo.com ;
2 PhD Kolyo VASILEV, Professor, The Plovdiv University of Agrobusiness and Rural Development, Bulgaria,
3 Bojidar KOLEV, PhD Senior lecturer, The Plovdiv University of Agrobusiness and Rural Development, Bulgaria
4 Stefania Daniela BRAN, Student, The Bucharest University Politehnica, Romania
INTRODUCTION
The adhesion of Bulgaria to the EU is the decisive factor for a reform in agriculture and rural economy, as European agriculture is based on a market-oriented sector, concurrently with the integration of agriculture in the environment and forestry. With this background, vegetal biological diversity represents the variety and variability of numerous species and the ecologic ambient in which such are found. Vegetal organisms are organized on varied levels in Bulgaria, within the period 1992-2002 and 3,572 species (5,714 species worldwide) are known: among these, indigenous forestry species 128. There were no endangered species on the specified date.
Concurrently the increase of the anthropic impact and global weather changes impose the quantitative and qualitative valuation of biodiversity from natural and anthropized ecosystems and social-ecological complexes in view of environment protection and sustainable development. As agriculture uses external energy as inputs, it is necessary that such should be alloted in a balanced way and administered only within optimal periods.
The deficit of indigenous products deriving from inaccurate management impairs the supply of the Bulgarian market with vegetable products and the acceptance of import.
MATERIALS AND WORK METHOD
Bulgaria benefits in the largest part of the territory of a continental climate with cold winters and hot summers. Precipitations are in average of approximately 630 mm per year. Within this area, vegetal biodiversity is represented by agricultural (field cultures, vegetables, fruit-trees, vine, pastureland and hay-fields) and forestry species.
The agricultural area of Bulgaria is of 5,174 mil. ha, out of which 2% in irrigation conditions (in the year 2008); arable land (3,031 mil ha) is serviced by obsolete mechanization, to one tractor being assigned 57.65 ha arable land. The fertilization of cultures is executed with chemical NPK products in the quantity of 77.1 kg active substance/ha (with approximately 33kg active substance/ha more than in Romania).
Within the period 1990-2009, Bulgaria recorded high values of the agricultural weighting in GDP, in the conditions of the lasting decline of agricultural production (image 1). Thus, in 1990, agriculture participates with 17.03% in the forming of GDP; in 1993 it dropped to 11.3% due to the structural changes generated by the land reform and then on the background of the powerful crisis manifested in economy, in 1997 agriculture reached the maximum level of the period, i.e. 26.72%. Since 1998 and until 2009 the weighting of agriculture in GDP showed evident descending trends, reaching thus 5.63%. The labor force in agriculture is old, similar to Romania; in 1991 it represented 19.5% from the total working places and in 2009 it dropped to 7.5%.
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(990 (99 ( 1992 1993 1994 1995 19 96 (997 (993 (999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2GQ8 2009 |
■ Ei/rcpean ¿Ju'on I«H 3303 3.111 2.993 3.013 3.006 Z954 1818 Z.&ff 2.48 2.363 2.355 2.18 2074 2075 1.775 1.6S 1.718 1.621 J. 475
□ Bulg&ia 17.03 1B.94 12.94 11.3 13.34 15.74 15.63 26.7 2 18.39 15.35 J3.56 «C5 11.34 11.2 10.73 9.069 5.935 6.911 5.6291
fl for 5J3J5 13.74 20.13 19.41 22M 21.54 21.43 20.57 (9.56 16.22 15.15 12.51 «.93 12.76 13.03 W.33 10.14 10.51 3.777 7.14 7.i53|
Fig. 1 - Agriculture (cultivation of plants, livestock production, forestry, hunting, fishing),
%GDP
The determination of productive limits of vegetal species on Bulgarian farms was possible by a thorough documentation regarding the ecological conditions and the statistical regional and local data, but studying also the know-how of certain cultures.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Cultivated area. Due to the favorable relief, soil and weather conditions, but also the experience and tradition in production, cereals are the dominant agricultural cultures. Thus, their weighting in arable cultivated area was at the level of the year 1990 of 53%; after two transition decades, the areas assigned to cereal cultures extended to 60.15%.
In the structure of areas cultivated with cereals, wheat and corn occupy significant places: in 1990, 30% and 11% respectively; in 2009, 40.16% and 9.73% respectively.
The growing trend of the cereal domination in the structure of cultures is the direct result of the economic interest manifested by small-size exploitations that resulted concurrently with commencing the land reform at the beginning of the 90's.
From among plants destined to industrialization, sugar-beet records the deepest decline in view of the cultivated areas. The causes of this phenomenon were generated by the high level of production expenses for the setting up and maintenance of the culture, the non-stimulating prices offered by processors to agricultural producers, the dropping of the price for sugar-beet on the world market and the cheap imports of unrefined raw sugar. The weightings of sugar-beet cultures in the total arable area was at the level of the year 1990 of 1%; during the last decades, areas destined to this culture have been considerably reduced5 and as of 2008 this species was given up.
Sunflower experienced during the analyzed period an extension of the cultivated areas; it recorded an ascending evolution within the period 1990-2009 (from 7.3% to 22%). This positive evolution was influenced both by the suitability of the culture to the natural conditions, but especially the competitiveness and the comparative advantage
5 Statistical Yearbook of Bulgaria 2010 88
of such culture versus others (sugar-beet) in the new conditions of the domestic market and the maintaining of a high price on the international market.
Areas cultivated with potatoes have had negative dynamics. In the year 2009 versus 1990, the weighting of the areas cultivated with potatoes within the arable area has been reduced to 0.45%.
In regard to vegetables, within the period 2005-20 096 general decreases have been recorded (ha), as follows:
Year Species
tomato cucumber green pepper onion dry cabbage potatoes melons
2005 5394 777 5129 1527 3304 23999 7069
2006 7022 991 8516 2217 2818 24471 10069
2007 4828 850 5497 1262 2246 22427 4572
2008 3474 371 3751 1281 2093 21711 4749
2009 3007 876 5013 1179 1596 14002 5593
Areas occupied with fruit-trees recorded descending dynamics, as follows:
Year Surface-ownet orchards, ha
total in which production
2005 71457 26343
2006 71084 25978
2007 64800 28361
2008 65100 21978
2009 63102 24269
In Bulgaria, the restitution of areas occupied with orchards has been accompanied by the payment to the State of taxes that should cover the value of the plantations and this led to the decrease of the interest for tree-growing and the increase of the number of abandoned orchards. In order to stop such degradation were taken a series of measures that compelled owners to keep the orchards and to set up production cooperatives for the exploitation thereof7.
The area held by vineyards within the period 2002 - 2009 was reduced to approximately one half.
Productions As presented in table 1, one could say that neither extraordinary productions have been obtained, but in comparison to the records of the Romanian agricultural sector, they are larger in their majority.
6 Statistical Yearbook of Bulgaria 2010, pg. 298
7 Constantin Florentina, Privatizarea agriculturii in unele tari est-europene, Teza de doctorat, ASE, 2005
Table 1: Average productions obtained at agricultural cultures from Bulgaria8
Specification 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Field crops, kg/ha
Wheat 3157 3403 2197 4167 3187
Barley 2487 2942 2247 3943 3322
Maize 5308 4533 1459 4155 4707
Beans 1160 1318 1394 1169 1003
Sunflower seeds 1472 1594 937 1802 1928
Seed cotton 1148 1044 988 983 983
Tobacco 1427 1533 1374 1678 1842
Sugar beets 19112 19749 12684 - -
Vegetable species in the field, kg/ha
Tomato 16811 24283 19709 28345 24182
Cucumbers 13504 22224 16216 28394 23764
Green pepper 13418 17993 14395 15124 13648
Onions dry 9364 9143 8396 12485 6973
Cabbage 20939 25727 22055 30957 24636
Potatoes 15641 15771 13317 16258 16539
Melons 13759 18453 20894 19641 19757
Forage species, kg/ha
Maize for silage and green fodder 12605 12823 3909 12804 13070
Alfalfa hay 4701 5251 3424 4671 4727
Meadows hay 3324 3276 2283 2804 2557
Fruit species, media, kg fruits/ha
Apples, pears, plums, cherries, apricots, peaches 4663 5535 4558 4912 4978
Grape vine, kg/ha
Wine grapes 3067 4494 4855 4390 4944
Table grapes 2640 4383 5460 7305 5315
It can be noticed that cotton cultures are maintained and areas cultivated with tobacco have increased; cotton may be a profitable variant in terms of global warming, as the resistance is rendered by the deep pivoting root of the plant; tobacco, by its tropical origin, may be cultivated on significant areas in Bulgaria, as the trend of the species is already increasing.
If the distribution on the market is considered, costs with the vegetal production are high. Thus, for one hectare of wheat, Bulgarians invest Euro 970 (table 2) and the result is 0.2425 euro/kg grains; further to making the conversion into RON and capitalizing the product in Romania, if it is produced with RON 1.05 and the market price is RON 0.8 - 1.0, the loss is obvious.
8 Surse: Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Agrostatistics Department 90 EP 2012 (59) SI - 1 (86-93)
Table 2: Technological expenses for the wheat culture (4t grains/ha + 1.5 t hay/ha)
Mechanized Material expenses / fuel, fertilizer, seeds, pesticides, water Manual Total
No. Activities work labor costs
Euro/ha
1 Basic fertilization / 50 275 5 330
NH4NO3; P2SO4; K2O
2 Fall show + discussion 25 60 10 95
3 Sowing 20 60 15 95
4 Spring fertilized with N 40 20 10 70
Plant-protection spray 40 85 10 135
5 fungicides 10 25 5 40
herbicides 15 30 5 50
insecticides 5 20 5 30
6 Harvesting 40 40 30 110
7 Closely straw 10 5 - 15
Total costs 255 620 95 970
Costs, % 26,30 63,91 9,79 100
Field cultures are obtained in exploitations of the type of such presented in table 3. The structure of the species is generally adequate; an exception is individual exploitation, in which the rotation of sunflower cannot be accomplished at the necessary interval.
Table 3: Types of exploitations (households)
No. Types of exploitations/ Surface household, ha Structure
households min. max. species %
1 Individuals 1.5 250 wheat 65
sunflower 35
wheat 64
2 Unique traders 250 800 maize 10
sunflower 26
wheat 40
3 Household rent / lessor 800 6500 maize 10
sunflower 30
rape 20
wheat 40
4 Agricultural 500 2500 maize 10
cooperatives sunflower 30
rape 20
Vegetable production. Vegetables are demanded at local level and on export both in fresh condition and industrially processed.
On the territory of Bulgaria have been identified approximately 46 vegetable species that are reproduced in their majority by seeds and a couple of them by vegetative
organs (garlic, onion, horseradish etc.). The tradition of Bulgaria in vegetables is renowned. And in order to strengthen this, Professor Kolev9 specified a number of 64 commercial enterprises and firms out of 28 countries that as early as 1970 were supplying themselves with seed material from the Bulgarian vegetable genome.
During the last years, the vegetable production was impaired and difficulties were visible. In regard to the area held by vegetables, we found its decrease by approximately 31% in 2009 versus 2005. From the cultivated area, 90% represent vegetable cultures in the field.
The area occupied by vegetable species is held by varied types of households (table 4), with a general average of 5.0016 ha/household. Individual producers predominate, who although not even cultivating 2000 m2/producer, exploit a significant area. Nevertheless, 67% from the production is performed in agricultural cooperatives.
Table 4: Types of exploitations (households) and the related average area
Types of households Suprafata medie/gospodarie, ha
Individuals 0,19
Unique traders 0,49
Agricultural cooperatives 13,83
Societies, registered under the law come 13,45
Civil associations 0,35
Other status 1,7
Further to comparatively analyzing the vegetable activity, a significant discrepancy is recorded between the Southern and the Northern part of Bulgaria: in the Southern part, the vegetable production is higher (within the period after 1989) by 5-6 times than the one from the Northern part.
In Southern Bulgaria, the predominant species are: onion (70%), cabbage (82%), carrot (94%), leek (96%), radishes (98%), savory (95.8%) etc.
Seed assigned to the setting up of vegetable cultures is produced in qualitative proven spaces that satisfy the requirements of each species and even variety, but the know-how is obsolete (works are manually performed in their majority). In the current conditions, State policies are liable to keep local sorts by stimulating the selection activity. The situation is so much more sensitive, as the seed material from the import is not suitable to the Bulgarian vegetable zones. In Northern Bulgaria are assigned 95 ha to seed cultures for vegetable species and in Southern Bulgaria 475 ha. Profitable productions are obtained by placing species (varieties) in favorable ecological conditions and using competitive and innovating know-how both in the production of the seed material and in the market vegetable products.
"Bulgaria should use more effort to develop its potential in the agricultural sector that has been neglected in previous years", admitted the Minister of Agriculture from Bulgaria at the International Agriculture Show 2011.
9 EE&AE'2004 - International Scientific Conference, Rousse, Bulgaria 92 EP 2012 (59) SI - 1 (86-93)
This work was cofinanced from the European Social Fund through Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development 2007-2013, project number POSDRU/89/1.5/S/63258 "Postdoctoral school for zootechnical biodiversity and food biotehnology based on the eco-economy and the bio-economy required by eco-san-genesys".
CONCLUSIONS
Further to the analysis and interpretation of the data on the average productions per hectare for the main vegetable cultures, it results that: due to the low degree of the technical outfit and the assignment of chemical fertilizers, very high oscillations can been noticed from one year to the other, at the level of yields per hectare and furthermore descending trends. It should be specified that oscillations of average productions occurred also according to the weather conditions; in all agricultural cultures, save small exceptions, in certain favorable years, large discrepancies versus the average of yields per hectare recorded within the European Union are experienced.
The reduction of the area cultivated with vegetables experienced in Bulgaria occurred due to the transition of the areas to other cultures, such as wheat and sunflower.
Although reputable by the vegetable production, the productive deficit is also generated due to the week preoccupation regarding the preservation of biodiversity of vegetal species (genetic material).
The impact of biodiversity researches influences decisions at the level of the economic and social environment, concurrently with taking measures regarding environment protection and nature preservation.
REFERENCES
1. Bran Mariana (2011), Raportprivind efectuarea stagiului de pregatire in Bulgaria, in cadrul Scolii Postdoctorala de Biodiversitate Zootehnica Biotehnologii Alimentare, Institutul National de Cercetäri Economice "Costin C. Kiritescu" al Academiei Române - Centrul de Studii §i Cercetäri pentru Biodiversitate Agrosilvicä
2. Constantin, Florentina (2005), Privatizarea agriculturii in unele tari est-europene, Teza de doctorat, ASE Bucuresti
3. Kolev, B., (2004), Productia de legume in Bulgaria, EE&AE - International Scientific Conference, Rousse, Bulgaria
4. * * * Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Agrostatistics Department, Date statistice
5. * * * Statistical Yearbook of Bulgaria 2010, pg. 298
