REPUBLIC OF

Census of Agricultural Holdings in Bulgaria in 2010 Ministry of Agriculture and Food Ministry of Agriculture and With the financial support of Food the European union

No 211 – November 2012

Agricultural Census in 2010 2010 2020020052005 DISTRICT – main results

General characteristics of the district The Lovech District is located in the North West Region and is one of the 28 districts of Bulgaria (level NUTS 3 of the common classification of territorial units A for statistics of EU). The total area of the district is 4 128 sq. km which is 3.7% of the territory of the country. The number of settlements is 128, G administered in 8 municipalities; the towns are 8 and the villages - 120. According to the census in 2011 the population of the district is 141 142 people or slightly R less than 2% of the population of the country. The total utilized agricultural area (UAA) is 805 309 dca and O occupies 19.5% of the territory of the district.

STRUCTURE OF AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS S The number of agricultural holdings in the Lovech District is 10 118 or 0,9% of the holdings in the country. The utilized agricultural area (UAA) is 805 310 dca and is distributed in 9 874 holdings. The average size of the UAA is 81.6 dca or 80.6% of the average size for the country - 101.3 dca. The holdings without UAA are 244. The number of holdings is T largest in the municipality of Lovech - 22.1% followed by the municipalities of - 19.2%, - 18.3% and Lukovit - 15.8%. The average size of land is largest in the plain area of the municipality of Letnisa - 409, the average UAA in the mountainous municipality of Aprtiltsi is 41.7 decares, in the municipality of Lovech - 138.7 dca, Lukovit - A 134.2 dca. The average UAA of the municipality of Teteven is the smallest - 13.5 dca. The holdings cultivating over 500 dca of UAA are 173 (2%) and cover 81% (648 690 dca) of the UAA of the district. The holdings cultivating up to 10 dca T are 7 015 or 71% of the holdings with UAA in the district but they cultivate 3% (25 582 dca) of the UAA.

Table 1 Distribution of agricultural holdings in the Lovech District according to the size of UAA by municipalities

I UAA (da) Total = 0.0 > 0.0 and < 10.0 ≥ 10.0 and < 20.0 ≥ 20.0 and < 100.0 ≥ 100.0 and< 500.0 ≥ 500.0 Municipality Number Average Number Number Number Number Number Number S UAA of UAA UAA UAA UAA UAA of size of of of of of (da) holding (da) (da) (da) (da) (da) holdings (da) s holdings holdings holdings holdings holdings T BULGARIA 370 222 36 169 647.3 101.3 13 148 248 015 816 280.7 46 944 625 506.8 41 124 1 631 422.8 12 828 2 786 112.8 8 163 30 310 324.2 Lovech District 10 118 805 309.9 81.6 244 7 015 25 582.1 1 338 18 274.8 1 030 39 887.4 318 72 875.2 173 648 690.4 530 22 116.5 41,7 - 228 1 143.2 183 2 709.8 106 3 442.1 9 c 4 c I 259 102 253.6 409,0 9 150 244.2 18 247.7 29 1 224.0 35 8 749.2 18 91 788.5 Lovech 2 237 301 638.5 138,7 63 1 833 4 801.9 76 1 022.5 106 4 823.5 87 21 411.1 72 269 579.5 C Lukovit 1 603 198 130.6 134.2 127 1 167 3 132.7 113 1 521.1 97 3 800.8 54 12 332.4 45 177 343.6 Teteven 1 938 25 899.6 13,5 13 1 225 6 097.3 399 5 299.3 283 10 777.7 17 c 1 c Troyan 1 848 67 671.4 37,2 29 1 394 5 325.4 210 2 834.5 146 5 713.6 50 11 930.9 19 41 867.0 S 944 61 974.9 65.8 2 582 2 430.0 165 2 288.6 141 5 529.2 46 9 592.3 8 42 134.8 759 25 624.8 33.8 1 436 2 407.4 174 2 351.3 122 4 576.5 20 4 179.9 6 12 109.7

Results and analyses

Distribution of UAA in the Lovech District UAA according to the legal status of the holdings The utilized agricultural area of 805 310 dca is distributed among 9 874 agricultural holdings with location on the territory of the Figure 1 Lovech District. The number of the owners who are natural Associations persons is 9 703 and they manage 39% of the UAA and the Commercial and others average UAA per holding is 32.5 dca. The commercial companies Natural companies 1% persons are 92 and they utilize 31% of the UAA with an average area of 31% 39% 2 730.2 dca. There are 49 sole traders operating on the territory of the district who manage 20% of the UAA and the average size of UAA per holding is 3 192.9 dca. The cooperatives on the territory of the district are 18 and they manage a total of 9% of the UAA with an average size of the area of 4 140.3 dca. The associations and the holdings with other legal status (monasteries, schools, institutes, etc.) are 12 and they utilize 1% of the UAA with Cooperatives average area of 612.8 dca. 20% of the utilized land is owned by 9% Sole traders 20% the holdings, and 80% is rented. 87% of the utilized land is owned by natural persons. CROPS

Distribution of UAA by crops The share of arable land of UAA in the district is 75% or 600 592 Figure 2 dca and is cultivated by 6 698 holdings. Cereals occupy 58% (345 534 dca) of the arable land and 43% of the UAA. The area Plums and Others under technical crops is 33% (196 086 dca) of the arable land and wild 10% Cereals 24% of the UAA. 83% of these area are occupied by sunflower plums 43% 2% which takes 20% of the UAA in the district. 3% of the UAA is the share of fodder crops: 60% of them are non-perennial legume Grassland grass and 28% maize for silage and green fodder. The share of 22% permanent grassland of the UAA is 22% (174 217.5 dca). The share of permanent crops is 3% of the UAA or 27 835 dca and 87% of them consist of orchards. Plums and wild plums take up 64% of orchards and 2% of the UAA. The area under vineyards is Fodder 2 892 dca distributed among 1 002 holdings. crops 3% Sunflower 20% LIVESTOCK Farm animals, poultry and bees are raised in 8 921 farms in the Distribution of livestock units district. 20% of them raise cattle, 38% - sheep, 46% - goats, 29% - Figure 3 pits and 77% - poultry. The holdings in the Lovech District raise 12 180 heads of cattle with average size of herds of 7 heads. The dairy cows are 5 654. Sheep, goats and cattle are raised mainly in BULGARIA 41% 12% 3% 16% 20% 8% holdings of natural persons, respectively 78% of the cattle, 93% of Lovech 37% 16% 7% 14% 16% 10% the sheep and 94% goats of the in the district. Legal entities raise 54% of the pigs and the holdings of natural persons - 46%. The Cattle Sheep Goats Pigs Poultry Other commercial companies and the sole traders raise 58% of the poultry. 1 213 holdings raise 21 637 bee families and 92% of them Livestock units are standard measuring units which allow for are in holdings of natural persons. unification of the different categories of animals for the purpose of their comparison. LABOUR FORCE

Number of persons employed in agriculture by gender 19 616 (seasonal workers excl.) were employed in agricultural and age group holdings in 2010 and they worked 9 418 annual work units (AWU). Figure 4 18 522 or 94% of those employed in agriculture in the district were family labour force. The non-family labour force (employees) accounted for 1 094 employees or 6% of those employed in over 65 years 4 334 3 931 agriculture who worked a total of 992 AWU. The seasonal workers worked 88.7 thousand man-days which represents 382 AWU. 46% of from 55 to 64 years 2 619 2 542 those employed were women and 54% - men. The pensioners above 64 working in agricultural holdings accounted for 42% of employees from 45 to 54 years 1 806 1 338 while the workers up to 34 were 5%. 76% of 10 118 managers of holdings (including natural persons) were men, and 24% were from 35 to 44 years 1 224 747 women. The managers worked a total of 5 200 AWU. 3% were aged from 25 to 34 years. 516 321 up to 34 and 52% - of them were over 64 years of age.

under 24 years 168 70

Male Female

TYPOLOGY OF AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS The holdings specialized in the raising of grazing animals, mixed crops and livestock - respectively 27,8% and 24,9% - are dominant in the Lovech District. The standard output is formed mainly by the holdings which are specialized in growing field crops (40.9%) and in the raising of grazing animals (20.4%).

2 MAIN RESULTS Table 2 Number of holdings and area with main crops, number of animals and labour force in the Lovech District BULGARIA Lovech District Agricultural area and crops Holdings Area Holdings Area (number) (dca) (number) (dca) Utilised agricultural area 357 074 36 169 647.3 9 874 805 309.9 Arable land 250 728 31 249 279.8 6 698 600 591.7 Cereals 119 640 17 961 479.9 2 919 345 534.4 - Wheat 49 436 11 497 374.0 675 230 327.5 - Barley 19 759 2 523 437.0 290 41 201.2 - Grain maize 68 381 3 151 539.5 2 333 62 580.6 Sunflower 16 873 7 325 024.3 177 163 155.2 Rape 1 927 2 231 852.8 21 29 942.6 Fodder crops 75 332 1 061 335.4 2 033 27 317.9 Kitchen gardens 227 930 103 646.5 7 549 2 665.7 Permanent grassland 107 267 3 820 229.9 5 704 174 217.5 Permanent crops 118 610 996 491.1 4 741 27 835.0 - Vineyards 87 002 523 356.7 1 002 2 891.7 - Orchards 42 827 455 048.5 4 004 24 325.3 Apples 19 138 58 509.8 1 649 2 085.2 Peaches and nectarines 9 369 48 701.7 129 2 380.8 Plums and wild plums 16 273 83 745.8 3 481 15 645.1 Cherries and sour cherries 10 702 106 319.8 169 1 250.9

BULGARIA Lovech District Types and categories of animals Holdings Number of Holdings Number of animals* (number) animals* (number) Cattle 95 357 576 339 1 748 12 180 - Cows 86 210 347 291 1 592 6 492 Buffaloes 1 028 10 038 49 354 Sheep 91 793 1 415 181 3 425 39 943 Goats 84 582 388 866 4 085 19 028 Pigs 82 265 670 469 2 594 12 926 - Sows 15 235 73 547 325 1 435 Total equidae 92 806 112 632 2 246 3 180 Poultry 185 455 17 491 187 6 874 320 209 - Laying hens and pullets 180 253 7 875 278 6 788 160 628 - Ducks 7 907 1 543 763 197 23 412 Bee colonies 23 982 588 694 1 213 21 637

*Except for the bees indicated in number of bee colonies.

BULGARIA Lovech District Total Labour force Total labour Family labour Non-family Family labour Non-family labour force force labour force force labour force force Number of employees in the holdings 738 634 681 466 57 168 19 616 18 522 1 094 Labour input in AWU 389 107 336 766 52 341 9 418 8 426 992

Table 3 Typology of agricultural holdings in the Lovech District

Types of specialist holdings Unit meas. BULGARIA Lovech District % in the district

Number of holdings 370 222 10 118 100,0% Total SO (thousand Euro) 2 458 262.8 48 411.3 100,0% Number of holdings 63 112 378 3.7% Field crops SO (thousand Euro) 1 152 959.3 19 770.0 40,9% Vegetables, flowers Number of holdings 18 223 134 1,3% Specialist holdings - crops and mushrooms SO (thousand Euro) 166 013.1 1 747.0 3,6% Number of holdings 32 111 769 7,6% Permanent crops SO (thousand Euro) 60 544.3 1 509.7 3,1% Number of holdings 88 630 2 815 27,8% Grazing livestock SO (thousand Euro) 379 412.6 9 885.4 20,4% Specialist holdings — animal production Pigs, poultry and Number of holdings 28 583 595 5,9% rabbits SO (thousand Euro) 348 827.3 5 723.7 11,8% Mixed crop Number of holdings 14 607 655 6.5% holdings SO (thousand Euro) 65 950.0 2 137.3 4.4% Mixed livestock Number of holdings 50 186 2 244 22.2% Mixed holdings holdings SO (thousand Euro) 76 438.5 2 699.2 5.6% Mixed crop and Number of holdings 73 788 2 521 24.9% livestock holdings SO (thousand Euro) 208 117.7 4 939.0 10.2% Not classified Number of holdings 982 7 0.1% holdings 3 CENSUS OF AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS 2010: METHODOLOGY

This publication presents and analyzes the data of 10 118 agricultural holdings located in the Lovech District which meet the thresholds for agricultural holdings. The agricultural holdings are grouped into "natural persons" and "legal entities" in the analysis of the results. The sole traders and the associations are included in the group of legal entities because in terms of size and "behaviour" they are closer to cooperatives and commercial companies than to the holdings of natural persons.

USED DEFINITIONS ORGANIZATION AND CONDUCT OF THE Agricultural holding or „holding“ is a technical-economic unit, under single management, CENSUS which is engaged in agricultural production or maintains agricultural land in good The census of the agricultural holdings was held agricultural and environmental condition within the meaning of article 2, letter ‘a’ of from 1st September to 30th November 2010 in Regulation (EC) No 1166/2008 and meets at least one of the criteria laid down in Annex accordance with the Law on Agricultural Census No 2 to article 5 of the Law on Agricultural Census 2010 in Bulgaria. 2010 in Bulgaria. The information was collected by Utilized agricultural area (UAA) of agricultural holdings includes their arable land, interviewers who visited the holdings meeting the permanent crops, permanent grassland and kitchen gardens. criteria for an agricultural holding in the district and Arable land is agricultural land worked under a system of crop rotation on an annual basis interviewed their owners or managers. - area with annual crops as well as area under glass, area with strawberries, temporary 68 interviewers and 9 supervisors who were grass, hops, oil rose, lavender, fallow land and area for production of seeds and seedlings. specially trained worked on the territory of the Permanent crops are orchards, vineyards, area with berry plantations and nurseries Lovech District during the census. The data entry (including for forest trees). from the completed questionnaires was followed by Permanent grasslands are natural meadows and low productive grassland of the holding verifications and controls of compliance that aimed which are cut or grazed by the animals. Area not used for production purposes but to ensure the high quality of the collected maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition is also included here. information. The UAA of the holdings does not include common area used collectively by several All participants in the collection and the processing holdings for grazing animals. of the data are obliged to keep strict statistical secret Annual Work Unit – one AWU is equal to the hours work by a person employed on a full- and the individual data of the holdings may not be time basis during the whole year. In Bulgaria it is adopted that 1 AWU is equal to 1 856 used for other purposes but statistical ones (Chapter working hours during the year or 232 man-days. st th VI of the Law on Agricultural Census 2010 in Period of observation for the area is the crop year: from 1 October 2009 to 30 Bulgaria). September 2010. The number of the animals is reported on 31.08.2010. The labour force is reported for a period of 12 months ending on 31.08.2010.

TYPOLOGY OF AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS The typology of agricultural holdings is a uniform classification of the holdings in the Community based on type of farming and economic size and allows for determining their specialization and size. The classification is based on economic criteria called standard output (SO). The type of farming of a holding is determined by the relative contribution of the standard output of the different products of this holding to the total standard output. The holdings are classified in nine general types: Specialist holdings - crops Mixed holdings 1. Field crops 6. Mixed crops 2. Vegetables, flowers and mushrooms 7. Mixed livestock breeding 3. Permanent crops 8. Mixed crops and livestock breeding Specialist holdings - animal production 4. Grazing livestock 9. Not classified holdings 5. Pigs, poultry and rabbits SO 2007 calculated as weighted average values for the period 2005-2009 were used to determine the typology of the holdings for the census of agricultural holdings in Bulgaria in 2010. The classification of the holdings in homogenous groups by type of specialization and economic size allows for comparison of the agricultural structures in different countries and in time. How is typology determined? What is "economic size" of an agricultural holding? – The The determination of the typology of holdings has the following steps: economic size of a holding is determined on the basis of the - The individual SO of all agricultural holdings (from crop and animal total standard output of the holding. It shows the potential of production) is determined for a particular crop year or as an average value the holding but not its financial results. The economic size of several years. The individual SO reflects the average monetary value of allows for comparison of holdings with different specialization the agricultural production at the producer's price. The SO does not include because the physical size (average area, number of animals, direct payments; value added tax and other taxes. etc.) does not provide sufficient information. - These individual SO are applied to the data of each holding (the area of The economic size of a holding is determined as the sum of each type of crop and the number of each animal category raised on the SO of each product produced in the holding. The holdings are holding is multiplied by the relevant SO) and summed to determine the total classified by size classes (from I to XIV). The I class includes SO of the holding in euro. holdings with size up to 2 thousand EUR. The holdings with - The specialization of the holding is determined on the basis of a economic size from 2 thousand EUR to 100 thousand EUR are classification scheme set out in Regulation (EC) 1242/2008 amended by classified in classes from II to VII, while holdings with Regulation (EO) 867/2009. economic size above 100 thousand EUR fall within classes from VIII to XIV. The typology of holdings is used in agricultural statistics to analyze the results obtained from statistical surveys and to prepare samples for conducting subsequent ones.

The publication is completed on 30 November 2012 For more information MAF, Agrostatistics Department Edited by MAF, Agrostatistics Department Tel/fax: 980 82 94; E-mail: [email protected] Address: , 1040, MAF, 55 Hristo Str. Website of MAF: www.mzh.government.bg Regional Agricultural Directorate – Lovech http://www.mzh.government.bg/ODZ-Lovech/bg/Home.aspx Address: Lovech 5000, 43, Targovska Str. tel./fax: (068) 603 961; E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]

4