FARM ADVISORY SERVICE. «Preparation of the Farm Advisory service employees for the implementation of the Agri-environmentalclimate

Transcription

1 FARM ADVISORY SERVICE «Preparation of the Farm Advisory service employees for the implementation of the Agri-environmentalclimate measures» Zagreb 1 April 2014

2 Importance and Role of Farm Advisory in Rural Development Common Agricultural Policy Direct Payments (Pillar I) Rural Development (Pillar II) Aim: farm modernisation competitiveness building sectoral integration innovation market orientation promotion of entrepreneurship

3 Previous experience ( ): Measure 114: Use of Advisory Services by farmers and forest holders Farm Advisory Cross Compliance Committee

4 EU Regulations: Direct Payments (Pillar I) /2003 (until ) 73/ /2013 Rural Development (Pillar II) 1698/ / /2013 Horizontal 1306/2013

5 AIM of the Farm Advisory System: ( ) «to cover at least the Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) and the Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC) in the framework of Cross Compliance».

6 Farm Advisory Cross Compliance Committee : 1. Department of Agriculture (DOA) Extension Section (Coordinator) 2. Veterinary Services 3. Department of Environment 4. Game Fund and Wildlife Service 5. Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organisation (CAPO) 6. Water Development Department (new 2014)

7 Farm Advisory Cross Compliance Committee Actions: 1. Meetings to identify obligations 2. Prepare Training Material 3. Train Farm Advisors 4. Assist CAPO to prepare check lists for on the spot checks 5. Prepare and Implement information campaign for farmers

8 6. Local seminars (evenings) Farm Advisory Cross Compliance Committee Information Campaign: 1. Detailed Information Leaflets 2. Flyers 3. Data booklets (to assist farmers) 4. TV, Radio, Newspapers, Countryman magazine 5. Specialised section on DOA website

9 AIM of Measure 114 : «Use of Advisory Services by farmers and forest holders» (in Cyprus) to cover at least the Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) and the Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC) in the framework of Cross Compliance. to cover Farm Occupational Safety Standards requirements to provide advisory services for farm modernisation (preparation of business plans and feasibility studies) NOT FOR THE AEC measures

10 Measure 114 «Use of Advisory Services by farmers and forest holders» Providers: Accredited Private Consultant Firms BUT (Department of Agriculture Extension Section /Agricultural District Offices / Veterinary Services (depending on the advise) are always obliged to provide free advise when requested )

11 Action Number of Accredited Private Consultant Firms Number of Extension Farm Advisors Farm Modernisation (preparation of feasibility studies) 43 0 Cross Compliance 4 * 70 * The four accredited firms had a total of 38 individually accredited Advisors

12 Agrienvironmental-climate measure Eligible Actions: Α) Mandatory Actions Cross Compliance Requirements and Farm Occupational Safety Standards Β) Optional Actions Farm Accounting Management of Organic Farms Integrated Production Management Systems Management of Livestock Farms Management of Glasshouse Holdings (& Hydroponics) Management of Private Forests

13 Clarifications regarding the selection of actions: Overlapping actions were excluded Integrated Production Management Systems Management of Glasshouse Holdings (& Hydroponics) Applicants for Management of Organic Farms advisory action should provide necessary paperwork attached to their application

14 Maximum amount of aid per action / biennial Advisory Action Mandatory Action Maximum Aid Cross Compliance Requirements and Farm Occupational Safety Standards 500 Optional Actions Farm Accounting 300 Management of Organic Farms 700 Integrated Production Management Systems 700 Management of Glasshouse Holdings (& Hydroponics) 700 Management of Livestock Farms 700 Management of Private Forests 200 up to 80% of the total cost per advise Maximum aid of Euros per application

15 BUT: Producers - members of Producers Organizations are not eligible to participate in the Optional Actions for advice on: «Management of Organic Farms» «Integrated Production Management Systems» «Management of Glasshouse Holdings (& Hydroponics)» Producer Organisations Operational Programmes

16 Prioritisation of Applications Professional Farmer Applicant who provides relevant certification from the Social Security Dept 41 Applicant to other Measures of the Rural Development Programme Application approved for participation in the Young Farmers measures 21 Age Young farmer under the age of Organic Farmer Applicant who provides relevant certification 9 Integrated Management Systems Applicant who provides relevant certification 7 Direct Payments Annual Aid Over New applicant to Measure 114 New applicant to measure 114 3

17 Four Accredited Firms: The firms should employ the correct Accredited Consultants in order to cover all the actions of the measure (mandatory and optional) qualifications cover the whole territory of Cyprus be able to cover the applicants contacts for the 2 years which are required Minimum number of visits / year: 5 for the mandatory action 8 for each optional action (excl. Farm Accounting)

18 Requirements for Accreditation: Consultants to be accredited should : have had relevant academic qualification and be registered in the relevant professional body (Consultants are only allowed to give advise according to their qualifications) no training given to this effect have prepared relevant advisory material approved by the Farm Advisory Cross Compliance Committee in order to show capability in providing advise

19 Requirements for Accreditation: Consultants to be accredited should (cont. ): have attended the training provided be the Farm Advisory Cross Compliance Committee regarding the Cross Compliance Requirements and Farm Occupational Safety Standards. Detailed Training by specialists regarding all the obligations, what is required from the farmers and how to provide the information have passed the written exam regarding the Cross Compliance Requirements and Farm Occupational Safety Standards

20 Some facts: Cyprus area Agricultural Land 9,250 sq Km (only 5,895 sq Km under effective Government control) 12.5% Arable Land Permanent cropland Forest Area 8.9% (82000 ha) 3.4% 18.9% (mostly state-owned)

21 Some facts (cont.): Agricultural holdings (2007) Applications for Direct Payments (2011) Number of Applicants receiving over Euros in Direct Payments (2011) 313 Applications to Measure 114 (2011) 127 Contacts received for Measure

22 Going forward: New regulation new requirements: No accreditation of private firms the advise will be provided be Governmental Farm Advisors (except for the preparation of Business Plans / Feasibility studies) Detailed Training programmes for the Farm advisors to attend are in preparation by specialists to cover all obligations

23 Going forward: New regulation new requirements (cont) : Training and exam is organised for the users of agrochemicals Computer programme in preparation to assist documenting the advise given Information / advise material in preparation as before

24 Going forward: New regulation new requirements (cont) : The measures in Cyprus (including the AEC) are currently under preparation making sure for no overlapping of measures (eg AEC and Organic Farming) Agri-environment-climate commitments should be defined shortly and further training will be scheduled to cover Farm Advisory for those commitments Application forms and certification schemes to be prepared

25 Going forward: New regulation new requirements (cont) : Training of Farm Advisors will be focused on: Cross Compliance obligations Integrated Production Management Systems Weed control (mechanical / agrochemical) Crop rotation Mainly for potatoes, vines, citrus, decidues

26 Thank you for your attention Dr Eftychia Charalambous-Snow Agricultural Officer A Agricultural Extension Section Department of Agriculture - Cyprus