Future Resilience of the Grain Farming System in North-East Bulgaria – Alternatives and Strategies for Adaptation

Abstract

Grain farming is a well-established sub-sector in North-East Bulgaria that tenures most of the arable land in the region and contributes for substantial shares of the grain outputs of the country. This paper takes a system view of grain farming and examines how the farming system would change in response to perturbations. It employs participatory qualitative research methods to explore future alternative systems and possible strategies to achieve them. Envisaged future alternatives range from change of the farms through technological innovation and crop diversification to creating a new enterprise in processing or undertaking farming in a different region. They can be realised through predominantly self-reliant strategies while key relationships between actors in the farming system can be strengthened to ensure successful outcomes.