Abstract
The current study presented empirical results from a survey among eighty-six fruit-growers in the region of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Respondents participated in an online survey conducted in 2024. The aim of the study was to evaluate the existing risks in the fruit-growing sector and to identify relevant directions for future improvement that support sustainable development. The analysis identified twenty relevant risks which were assessed based on their likelihood and negative impact. The findings demonstrated the significance of most of the studied risks, with biological and market risks playing a dominant role. Fruit growers also recognized the importance of risk management for sustainable development, given their current vulnerability to certain risks. Moreover, there was a clear readiness to dedicate more resources and efforts to risk management. The analysis revealed the implementation of numerous risk management practices by fruit-growers; however, the focus overly concentrated on specific areas. Consequently, the evidence suggested several potential directions for improving risk management in the future.
Keywords: risk management, risk assessment, fruit-growing, climate change, Bulgaria