The issues of strategies, approaches and policies of small-scale farmers’ integration in value
chains are among the most topical around the globe (FAO, 2007). They are particularly
important in East European countries, whose transition has been associated with
emergence of numerous small holdings excluded from modern market chains (Csaki et al.,
2008). Nevertheless, with a few exceptions (Bachev and Manolov, 2007; and Bachev
2010b), there are no in-depth studies on factors, forms and challenges of market inclusion
of dairy farms in Bulgaria.
This paper presents the state of integration of small-scale dairy sheep farms in value
chains in Bulgaria and a case study on organic farming as a new prospective approach for
market inclusion. The paper is structured as follows: it briefly outlines the evolution of
dairy sheep farming and organic production in the country, followed by an analysis of the
pace, factors and impact of development of a successful organic dairy sheep farm in North-
West Bulgaria. It specifies the driving factors and prospects of small-scale organic farming
development, followed by assessment of possibilities for replication of the positive
experience in other farms, and finally, provides the conclusion with recommendations for
improvement of public policies and farming strategies.
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