Analysis and Assessment of Infrastructural Potential in Rural Territories

Introduction. Since the mid-twentieth century, research has focused on agriculture as an important and structurally determining economic sector, constructing a significant part of the production infrastructure that serves an important function in generating economic growth in society. The asymmetry in the development of the territories and the general problems in the lagging areas are the subject of regional policy at the national and community level, to which a serious financial resource is directed, seeking a synergistic effect of the various support instruments on the entire territory. Over half of Bulgaria's territory is used for agriculture, and in rural areas it is also the main economic sector and source of livelihood. It is of crucial importance for the overall economic development of rural areas. In-depth research is needed to assess the infrastructure potential and analyze its impact on the generation of gross value added (GVA) and cohesion between regions. Aim and tasks. The aim of this paper is to analyze and evaluate the infrastructural potential of rural territories and its impact on the GVA generated by the agricultural sector. Results. The analysis compares the infrastructural potential of the districts with the production of the agricultural sector, the leading sector of the Bulgarian economy, and seeks ways to optimize it. Within the framework of the present research, the social, transport, tourist, and production infrastructure at the regional level is analyzed, and their relation to the GVA generated by the agricultural sector is examined. The social, transport, tourist, and production infrastructure by regions in Bulgaria and their impact on agribusiness were analyzed, and the results were summarized and mapped. As a result of the research, the territories were systematized depending on the ratio between the GVA from the agricultural sector and their infrastructural potential, and the trends in their development were outlined. Conclusions. The well-developed infrastructure in rural territories is a driving force for diversifying the functional use of the territory and the optimal utilization of available resources, ensuring not only economic progress but also sustainability in the development of rural territories. Improving infrastructure has a positive effect on the GVA of the agricultural sector, encourages diversification and the use of available resources, and helps make rural territories more sustainable.