1. Localization index of farms in the period 2008-2016 in the rural areas of the South Central Region

The rural development policy in Bulgaria is dictated by the accompanying facts, with approximately 45% of the population living in them, covering 85% of the territory. The study and analysis of the socio-economic processes in agriculture of smaller administrative units of the NUTS classification gives an accurate picture of the real situation. The operation of farms ensures the production of different types of agricultural production. Contributing to the formation of Gross Domestic Product and the fulfillment of commitments in relation to the EU Common Agricultural Policy. The application of the localization index for agricultural holdings in the rural areas of the South-Central Region in Bulgaria reveals their real economic status. The study of the specialization factor for agricultural holdings covers an eight-year period 2008-2016. The localization index is the basis for an analysis of the different types of economic processes and phenomena. It is also applicable in smaller administrative areas, namely in the rural municipalities of the South-Central Region.