PREREQUISITES AND CONDITIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF BULGARIAN AGRICULTURE AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTION ? CURRENT SITUATION, ISSUES AND PRIORITIES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CAP

Bulgaria has many years of experience, well-established traditions and vast opportunities in the sphere of agriculture and particularly in vegetable production. Vegetable production has been a traditional sub-sector of Bulgarian plant production. The development of this sub-sector is determined by the favorable natural, soil, climatic and geographical conditions in the country as well as by the rich production experience and national traditions of Bulgarian people over the years. Vegetable production forms 15% of the gross output of Bulgarian agriculture, which determines its importance for the agricultural sector in Bulgaria. The evaluation and analysis of the contemporary situation for the development of vegetable production are issues of current importance for Bulgarian agriculture in the context of the Common agricultural policy. The purpose of this article is to examine the prerequisites, conditions, status and issues associated with the development of agriculture and vegetable production in Bulgaria with a view to improving the economic performance.