The Ministry of Rural Development and Food proceeded with the publication of the final results of the «Agricultural Advice» program (sub-measure 2.1 of the 2014-2020 RDP) in early April.
«The “agricultural advice” program, through which we are providing free advice to our farmers and livestock breeders for the first time, is another step in our effort to support producers and modernize our production,» said George Stylos, Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food, to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency.
He also commented on the selection of certified and specialized agricultural advisors, saying that this decision «creates jobs for specialized scientists such as agronomists, foresters, economists, and environmentalists.
The program funds free advisory support for producers, with the aim of optimizing the management of their farms. This is an innovative initiative that is being implemented for the first time and is part of a broader effort to modernize Greek production.
The free advisory services funded by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food will be provided exclusively through Certified Bodies and their specialized Agricultural Advisors, who must be certified by ELGO-DIMITRA.
This decision ensures, among other things, the quality of services provided and, at the same time, creates jobs for scientists in the field of agriculture, such as agronomists, foresters, and environmentalists, as well as economists.
The amounts that certified bodies will receive for providing free advisory services are as follows:
- Region of Epirus €2,351,065
Region of Western Macedonia €2,399,492
South Aegean Region €599,999
North Aegean Region €799,994
Attica Region €337,330
Region of the Ionian Islands €499,994.
As for the rest of the country's regions, the results are expected in the coming weeks once the administrative audit has been completed.
The action, co-financed by the Rural Development Program (RDP) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), funds comprehensive advisory packages, specifically:
- for cross-compliance requirements, for the implementation of standards for good agricultural and environmental conditions and for agricultural practices beneficial for the climate and the environment, as well as for the preservation of biodiversity
to meet the requirements of the Water Framework Directive
to meet the requirements for compliance with the general principles of integrated pest management of Directive 2009/128/EC
for actions that mitigate climate change and promote the adaptation of agriculture
for the proper implementation of Measures 10 «Agri-environmental and climate measures» and 11 «Organic farming»
to improve the sustainability and competitiveness of agricultural holdings and increase the added value of agricultural products.
Th. Papakostas
