Abstract
Abstract. Despite its big theoretical and practical importance in Bulgaria there are no comprehensive analysis of the state and evolution of digitalization in agriculture and rural areas. The goal of this study is to analyze the state, development and efficiency of digitalization in the agrarian sphere in Bulgaria, specify major trends in that area, compare the situation with other EU countries, identify main problems, and make recommendation for improving policies in the next programing period. Analysis has found out that in recent years there is considerable improvement of the access of Bulgarian households to internet as well as a significant increase in the persons using internet for relations with public institutions and trading goods and services. Nevertheless, Bulgaria is quite behind from other EU members in regards to introduction of digital technologies in the economy and society taking one of the last places in EU in terms of Integral Index for Introduction of Digital Technologies in the Economy and Society – DESI. There is a great variation on the extent of digitalization in different subsectors of agriculture, farms of different juridical type and size, and different regions of the country. Most agricultural holdings are not aware with the content of digital agriculture as 14% apply modern digital technologies. Major obstacles for introduction of digital technologies are qualification of employees, amount of required investment, unclear economic benefits, and data security. Main areas where state administration actions are required are: support of measures for supplementary training of labor, tax preferences in planning of actions and digitalization of activity, stimulation of young specialists, introduction of internationally recognized processes of standardization and certification, adaptation of legislation in the area of data protection, and securing reliable and high speed networks.
Keywords. Digitalization, Agriculture, Rural, Bulgaria, EU CAP.
JEL. Q10, O31, O33, Q01, Q16, Q18.References
Башев Х. (2019): Дигитализация на селското стопанство и райони в България, EconPapers. [Retrieved from].
Башев Х. (2020): Дигитализация на селското стопанство и райони в България, Икономика и управление на селското стопанство, бр.1.
Башев Х. (2018): Влияние на институционалната среда върху аграрната устойчивост в България, Икономическа мисъл, 4, 3-32.
Башев Х. и М.Михайлова (2019): Състояние и развитие на аграрната научноизследователска и развойна дейност в България, Икономика и управление на селското стопанство, бр.3, 3-22.
Башев Х. и М.Михайлова (2019): Състояние и развитие на системата за обучение и съвети в селското стопанство на България, Икономика и управление на селското стопанство, бр.3, 21-41.
Башев Х. и М.Михайлова (2019): Състояние, ефективност и фактори за развитие на системата за споделяне на знания, иновации и дигитализация в селското стопанство, Икономика и управление на селското стопанство, бр.4, 3-23,
Башев Х. и М.Михайлова (2019): Анализ на състоянието на системата за споделяне на знания и иновации в селското стопанство в България, EconPapers. [Retrieved from].
Иванов Б., Р. Попов, Х. Башев, Н. Котева, Н. Маламова, М. Чопева, К. Тодорова, И. Начева, Д. Митова (2020): ДОКЛАД АНАЛИЗ НА СЪСТОЯНИЕТО НА СЕЛСКОТО СТОПАНСТВО И ХРАНИТЕЛНОВКУСОВАТА ПРОМИШЛЕНОСТ SWOT АНАЛИЗ, ИАИ и МЗХГ.
МЗХГ (2015): Програма за развитие на земеделието и селските райони на България , МЗХГ.
МЗХГ (2019): СТРАТЕГИЯ ЗА ЦИФРОВИЗАЦИЯ НА ЗЕМЕДЕЛИЕТО И СЕЛСКИТЕ РАЙОНИ НА РЕПУБЛИКА БЪЛГАРИЯ, Министерски съвет
Национален статистически институт (2019): разнообразни данни. [Retrieved from].
Николов Д. и др. (2018): „Иновационни модели за управление н земеделските стопанства в планинските райони“, ИАИ.
Bachev H. (2020): State, Efficiency and Factors for Development of AKIS in Bulgaria, Econpapers. [Retrieved from].
Bachev H. (2018): Management and Agrarian sustainability-impact of institutions in Bulgaria, International Journal of Management and Sustainability 7 (2), 113-142
Bachev H. (2020): State and Evolution of Public and Private Research and Development in Bulgarian Agriculture, International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Policy, Volume 9, 1, 10-25.
DESI (2019): Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), 2018 Country Report Bulgaria. [Retrieved from].
Eurostat (2019): variouse data. [Retrieved from].
European Commission (2018): Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the Common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans) and financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, European Commission, Brussels, 1.6.2018.