Overview
Sections

Good Practice - Project

Development of a Beekeeping and Fruit Growing Farm for Cvetan Cvetanov

Young Bulgarian farmer uses CAP support to help digitalise his beekeeping business and also develop orchards producing nutritious local food supplies.
  • CAP Implementation
    • - Programming period: 2014-2022
    Bulgaria
    - Programming period: 2014-2022
    Bulgaria

    General information

    RDP Priority
    • P2. Competitiveness
    RDP Focus Area
    • 2B: Entry of skilled/younger farmers
    RDP Measure
    • M06: Farm & business development
    Beneficiary type
    • Young farmer

    Summary

    Cvetan Cvetanov became a farmer in 2022 at the age of 35 when he launched his agrifood business plan to combine fruit orchards with beekeeping as part of an overall pluri-activity strategy in a Less Favoured Area (LFA). The farm covers six different plots: one registered apiary with 18 bee colonies, and five plots planned for apple (0.4 Ha) and pear (0.4 Ha) cultivation.

    CAP funding for business development and farm viability was provided to help invest in modernising the production system in ways that complied fully with EU standards for food, the environment, animal welfare, agri-hygiene, and safety. A key investment included a BEE DIGITAL electronic monitoring system for bee colonies to enhance honey yield control and enable timely responses to issues.

    The good practice project exemplifies a young farmer’s dedication to innovation, sustainability, and responsible agriculture by blending local knowledge with cutting-edge technology to promote healthy and sustainable vitality on a farming scale.

    Results

    • Contributed to generational renewal in Bulgarian agriculture.
    • Boosted farm production values by the target EUR 2 000 SOV to foster a more economically viable and sustainable small family farm.
    • Expanded cultivated area by adding 4.056 decares of apples and 4.597 decares of pears. This diversified the farm into fruit cultivation, adding resilience to the farming operation and providing nutritious local food supplies.
    • Increased bee colonies by an additional 32 through own breeding efforts.
    • Modernised the beekeeping business with the digital monitoring system.
    • Increased Cvetan´s knowledge in environmental protection through the consultancy package, ensuring adherence to sustainable practices.
    • Complied with EU standards in crop farming, enhancing the farm's market competitiveness and reputation.
    Image of a honeycomb in close-up
    Promoter

    Cvetan Cvetanov

    Funding

    RDP support: 15 000 (EUR)

    Close up shot of a bee worker pollinating a flower near Yambol, Bulgaria

    Context

    In 2022, Cvetan Cvetanov was a young farmer aged 35. His farm is situated in Zamfir village, Montana province, which is designated as an LFA. Cvetan was qualified in Agricultural Economy, and he wanted to learn more about agroecology to help him expand. While primarily a beekeeper with 18 bee colonies, he planned to develop by diversifying into cultivating orchards producing apples and pears.

    He was aware that young farmers were a priority for the CAP through its generational renewal opportunities. These funds could be used to facilitate farm expansions, modernisation, and compliance with EU standards, particularly concerning environmental protection and advanced beekeeping practices, to ensure economic viability and sustainability in rural areas.

    This young farmer's good practice project sought to be innovative by investing in a BEE DIGITAL electronic system for monitoring bee colonies.

    Objectives

    An ambitious range of aims was coordinated by Cvetan through his project to:

    • increase overall farm production value by a minimum of EUR 2 000 in Standard Output Volume (SOV).
    • undertake training of at least 18 academic hours on key environmental protection issues in agriculture.
    • enhance control over honey yield through an electronic monitoring system.
    • increase the number of bee colonies by 32 through bee breeding activities.
    • create new permanent orchards (at least 0.2 Ha from the land available).
    • improve farm mechanisation by purchasing agricultural equipment.
    • ensure compliance with EU standards regarding veterinary and phytosanitary requirements, animal welfare, environmental protection, hygiene, and safe working conditions.
    • Obtain consultant package TP 2 under sub-measure 2.1.2 "Advisory services for small farmers" from Measure 2 of the RDP 2014-2020.

    Activities

    Farm expansion activity involved planting 0.4Ha of apples and similar amounts of pears using a 5x4m scheme (50 seedlings per decare), fertilised with pre-decomposed manure. Water for irrigation was transported by tanker from a registered well in the village.

    Beekeeping development actions involved increasing the number of bee colonies by an additional 32 through the farmer's own breeding activities.

    Technological investment purchased a BEE DIGITAL electronic monitoring system for bee colonies. This includes a counter and scale to monitor hive processes, providing real-time data on weight changes, bee activity (entries/exits), and indicators for nectar flow or potential poisoning. It allows for timely intervention and diagnosis, enhancing control over honey yield and addressing issues like unauthorised pesticide spraying.

    Training and consultancy aspects of the project's CAP funding package focused on building his knowledge of environmental protection components by obtaining consultant package TP 2 under sub-measure 2.1.2 "Advisory services for small farmers" from Measure 2 of the RDP 2014-2020.

    Main results

    Project achievements:

    • contributed to generational renewal in Bulgarian agriculture.
    • boosted farm production values by the target EUR 2 000 SOV to foster a more economically viable and sustainable small family farm.
    • expanded cultivated area by adding 4.056 decares of apples and 4.597 decares of pears. This diversified the farm into fruit cultivation, adding resilience to the farming operation and providing nutritious local food supplies.
    • increased bee colonies by an additional 32 through own breeding efforts.
    • modernised his beekeeping with the digital monitoring system, providing quantitative data on hive weight, bee activity, and factors affecting honey yield. This digital solution represented a significant improvement in production management, allowing for precise control, early detection of issues such as risk of poisoning, and timely intervention.
    • increased the farmer's knowledge in environmental protection through the consultancy package, ensuring adherence to sustainable practices.
    • complied with EU standards in crop farming, enhancing the farm's market competitiveness and reputation.

    Key lessons

    • The project's model for integrating traditional beekeeping with modern monitoring technology and diversifying into fruit cultivation offers high transferability.
    • Small and young farmers aiming to increase economic viability and sustainability can adopt similar approaches.
    • The specific focus on environmental protection training and the implementation of smart farming solutions (like the BEE DIGITAL system) provides a blueprint for modernising agricultural practices in various regions, including in LFAs.
    • The structured approach to farm expansion and compliance with EU standards also makes this good practice a replicable model.

    Contacts

    ccvetanov68695@gmail.com