The National Association of Young Farmers in Bulgaria (NAMFB) is a non-for-profit, independent and voluntary organization, working in the public interest. Members of NAMFB are young farmers and young individuals, who are interested in farming and are between 18 and 40 years old. The Association is registered under the terms and procedures of the Non- Profit Legal Entities Act.

The Association was established in 2009 by young farmers from all over Bulgaria, active in a variety of agricultural fields. In December 2018 it has elected a new Managing Board and has attracted more than 20 new young farmers, representing a rich variety of agricultural sectors- fruit and vegetables, livestock breeding, beekeeping, wine production, agritourism and others.

NAMFB’s key objectives are: to defend the rights of young farmers at national and EU level; to work for the generational renewal of the farming sector and the revitalization of Bulgaria’s rural areas; to attract more young people to farming by fostering rural innovation and digitization.

Considering the new challenges facing our agricultural systems, related to the negative effects of climate change and the loss of biodiversity, on one hand and the digital revolution, on the other, NAMFB considers as crucial to encourage learning, skills building, knowledge transfer and access to advisory services in order to constantly improve the professional qualification of its members.

At the national level, the Association is actively involved in the preparation of legislative and strategic documents, related to CAP’s application in Bulgaria. In this regard, NAMFB is a member of the Rural Development Programme Monitoring Committee and participates in the permanent working groups to the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture.

NAMFB believes that a strong collaboration between the young farmers, the universities/research centers and the business is of utmost importance for the successful uptake of innovation and new technologies in agriculture.

At the European level, NAMFB is expanding its network of contacts with young farmers across Europe as well as with partner organizations at European and regional level, in order to encourage the participation of its members in exchange programmes and joint projects. Although not yet a full member, NAMFB is a reliable partner of the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA).

Since 2014, NAMFB participates actively, through its members, in the European Congress of Young Farmers, which is one of the largest forums, devoted to young European farmers, held annually at the premises of the European Parliament. In 2016, a member of NAMFB won “the Best Project” Award in the third edition of the European Congress, with his project for mobile beekeeping and integrated management system for beehives.

The NAMFB members are active young people who transform the rural areas in Bulgaria every day, by small steps, but having big dreams and a clear vision. Please visit here for more of our success stories.

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