Agronomy journal, Vol. 71 No. 3, 2009.
Review article
THE POSSIBILITIES OF AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL AREA OF BEDNJA MUNICIPALITY
Tito Žimbrek
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Ivo Grgić
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Ana Koren
; I. Poljaka 36, Bednja
Stjepan Šuman
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
Bednja municipality is in the very north-west part of Hrvatsko zagorje, the Republic of Croatia, and it is also a part of the county of Varaždin. In the 2001 census there were 4765 inhabitants in 25 settlements on the 75.58 square kilometres area of Bednja municipality. It is the biggest municipality in Varaždin County, but of the lowest density (65.05 in. per km2), two-times lower than Varaždin county′s average (146.49 in. per km2). There is 14.90 percent of total agricultural population and 25.27 percent of active population. Bednja municipality is a typical rural area, with all the characteristics of low economic development, which includes agriculture with characteristically bad demographic structure because of the long trend of depopulation. The north-west part of Bednja municipality borders on the Republic of Slovenia. Because of the mentioned characteristics, Bednja municipality is an area of special state care (group III). Natural conditions, especially those for agricultural development, are unfavourable because of the hilly relief, on average of 350 meters above sea level, with climatic and soil characteristics that cause lower yields and production. The status of a special state care has not significantly affected economic activities, but the advantages of the status are currently being used for the improvement of the communal infrastructure and for the construction of local roads. The production (and processing) of organic food, acceleration of business efficiency in tourism, and catering, small handicraft, production of traditional and new brands, etc., can be started with not very high investments, particularly because of the special status of this county district (state care). In the same time, the investment in social and technical infrastructure, in better traffic possibilities as well as in promotion of social standard would retain and also attract young and more educated people, important for the development. It is necessary for Bednja municipality and the county of Varaždin to make better conditions for business and for the flow of capital intended for activities suitable for the features and comparative advantages of this area.
Keywords
Republic of Croatia; Bednja municipality; agriculture; rural area
Hrčak ID:
43023
URI
Publication date:
16.11.2009.
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