FARM ACCOUNTANCY DATA NETWORK (FADN) IN THE CONTEXT OF AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

The Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) is a partial representative survey for evaluating the income and economic activities of agricultural holdings in the European Union. The survey covers only holdings that are considered market-oriented or commercial and they form the field of observation. In this paper we present the methodological framework of the FADN survey with the emphasis on the basic definitions and main indicators describing the activities of the agricultural holdings. Further we clarify the criteria used for the stratification of the holdings, the sampling methods and the contents of the Farm Return questionnaire. More attention is focused on the specific application of the FADN in Bulgaria with statistical analysis of the main economic results of the agricultural holdings for the period 2004 - 2009. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]