DEVELOPMENT OF ECOLOGICAL BEEKEEPING IN BULGARIA: STATUS AND PROSPECTS

In recent years, organic production has been one of the sectors that has grown in terms of areas, animals and number of people involved in a control system, successfully applied in Bulgaria, even in times of crisis. The reasons why organic production develops favourably are diverse and are related to the recognized benefit for the development of rural regions and the environment, as well as to the need and preferences of consumers for healthy and quality foods and also to the excellent prerequisites for the development of organic production in Bulgaria and the support of organic producers under the Rural Development Programme. The aim of this article is to analyze the status and development of organic beekeeping in Bulgaria, as well as to highlight some issues faced by organic livestock sector, and thus to stimulate and encourage the development of the potential Bulgarian organic beekeeping. The research is based on official statistical data of Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. Bulgaria is a traditional producer of different types of organically certified honey with excellent quality indicators and a large part of the production is exported to the world market. There is a need for research, analysis and evaluation of the status of ecological beekeeping in Bulgaria.