Justification
Bulgaria's water resources - rivers, Black Sea and groundwater are national treasures of decisive importance for the development of the country. This fact is realized by farmers, but the intensification of the industry often creates unfavorable conditions for protecting water quality. Examples are the production of large quantities of organic fertilizers, high rates of fertilization and intensive use of land, where agriculture activities are not properly planned and implemented. All these activities are a prerequisite for the acidification of soils and water quality deterioration due to pollution by nitrates.
The purpose of this project proposal is to demonstrate the application of best European practices for sustainable agriculture and protection of water resources from pollution by nitrates, by creating models of organic farms in four regions of the country, located near key water sources for them. Areas were selected based on detailed study of the willingness and ability of residents of the targeted regions to participate in the initiative. The goal is after the project start organic farms continue to expand and increase the area farmed organically in regions with no tradition in organic farming of medicinal plants and to provide a sustainable source of funds. Association present "KOCA" has established contacts with the municipal authorities of the target areas that will assist the promotion of the initiative to as many farmers to start their own organic production.
Location - Rabisha village, city of Hadjidimovo, city of Alphatar, city of Elhovo.
Project Target Groups - Target groups who will directly benefit from the project - 4 new organic producers in target areas with potential and desire for self-development activities in the field of organic cultivation.Target groups who will benefit indirectly from the project - 150 representatives of local communities.
Goal and expected impacts - The primary goal of the project - to help increase sustainable managed agricultural areas and conservation of soil and water resources, by creating models of organic farms in different areas of the country, located near important water areas.
Objectives and expected results
1. Implementation and promotion of organic farming methods and application of good agricultural practices in 4 regions of the country near important water areas;
2. Prevention of soil degradation and protection of groundwater against pollution caused by nitrates;
3. Expansion of areas sustainable managed lands;
Major activities
Activity 1: Training of beneficiaries of the project on the basic principles of organic agriculture and technology of cultivation, harvesting and primary processing of peppermint; Activity 2: Creation of plantations with mint and start cultivating them in the principles of organic farming; Activity 3: Certification of the newly created biological fields;
Activity 4: Conduct open days to demonstrate the advantages of organic farming - in every region of crops in intervention in the active growing season;
Sustainability
Project offers activities designed to promote environmentally sound management of abandoned agricultural land on the one hand and awakening the interest of farmers to the activities aimed at environmental protection in areas with a tradition of conventional breeding methods.
The goal of this project is to demonstrate alternative of the conventional agriculture and to attract more local farmers in organic agriculture in order to shift the conventional one that influents negatively on the soils, waters and bio variety.
Project Budget ? Total budget: 49700 BGN, Sum applied to SGP: 23000 BGN