FARM ADVISORY SERVICE IN CROATIA FORMATION AND TRANSFORMATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL ADVISORY SERVICES IN THE POST-SOCIALIST COUNTRIES Hrvoje Horvat, DVM TAIEX workshop Kijev, Ukraine, February, 2014

INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AFTER THE WWII - FORMER YUGOSLAVIA PERIOD agricultural and machinery stations were formed basic information to agricultural producers from support of farmers cooperations

INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY SERVICES DURING COLECTIVISATION 1949 – 1953 role in forming of farmer’s cooperatives cooperatives as mandatory rather than free form maintaining of cooperatives

INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRIALISATION - formation of agro-industrial combinats Mid 1960s – strong shift towards agro-industrial combinats agricultural and machinery stations were cut from budget and forced to survive alone or enter the combinats. till 1990 farm advisors only within combinats

INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT PERIOD FROM 1990 – NEW STEPS Agricultural Advisory Service (PSS) within the Croatian Agricultural Centre 1994 – Agricultural Advisory Service becomes department of the Ministry of Agriculture

INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT In 1997, independent public instituttion - Croatian Agriculture Extension Institute (CAEI). -center office in zagreb -offices across the country - first groups of field advisors PERIOD FROM 1990 – FIRST STEPS

INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT RECENT DEVELOPMENT Joining the Chamber 2010 the decision of the Croatian Government- CAEI becomes part of the Croatian Agriculture Chamber 2012 – again AS as independent institution with the Law on the Farm Advisory Service PUBLIC INSTITUTION FOR ADVISING IN AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, FISHERIES AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

PRIORITIES THROUGH DECADES 1990 – 2000 – BASIC PRECONDITIONS AND STRUCTURE Basic structure Assistance to the ministry – administrative support Promotion of government measures/programs Setting the offices across the country Employing of advisors

PRIORITIES THROUGH DECADES promotion of quality nutrition of animals – baling, silage, premixes good practice in the production of dairy and meat products preparations for the Nitrates Directive first steps in the implementation of cross compliance regulations adoption of new standards, certification the establishment of numerous associations organization of numerous public events – promotion of home made products, honey, fruit etc 2000 – 2010 – FOCUS ON THE EXPERTISE - NEW TECHNQUES/PRACTICES

ORGANIZATION  21 regional offices in all counties  110 offices in total  302 employees  Central office in Zagreb – 30 employees

ORGANIZATION  Variety of climatic and agricultural regions  Each region has specific requirements  Need for great variety of the approach and methodology

ORGANIZATION

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE – NETWORKS INSTEAD OF DEPARTMENTS COUNTY OFFICES COORDINATORS

PEOPLE STRUCTURE OF EMPLOYEES

PEOPLE STRUCTURE OF EMPLOYEES

ACTIVITIES BASIC ADVISORY WORK General information – office/field 30% Vocational trainings – mandatory and voluntary One to one advice – advisory packages ADMINISTRATIVE WORK AGRONET – farmers application for the direct payments 50% FADN research Forecast of plant protection Integrated production control SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES Projects 20% International activities Working with associations of farmers and fishermen Education

PRIORITIES IT system for organizing and analysis of work and results All activities recorded together with a car mileage recorded Farm card – central place of all farm data and events (advisory work) on the farm Automated accounting, processing of working hours and preparation of salaries - according to sources of funding NEW TECHNOLOGIES

PRIORITIES Vocational trainings for group farmers – costumized modules – up to 60 hrs depending of needs of a group Cataloge of services with 90 advisory packages -all sorts of production -young farmers -organic farmers -defined needs, expectable outcomes and activities -inclusion of farmer in customization of the package NEW SERVICES

PRIORITIES Membership in Advisory services associations (EUFRAS, IALB) Certification – CECRA advisory system certificate Co founders of SEASN - South Eastern Europe Advisory Services Network Projects – Horizon 2020, EIP and other INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

PRIORITIES CO-FINANCING Vocational trainings for M10 (agri-environment) and M11 (organic farmers) Vocational training – improvement of production and new technologies 1 to 1 advising - advisory packages FADN research Integrated production control Projects Authorized operations and tasks in the forestry sector

THANK YOU! FARM ADVISORY SERVICE IN CROATIA