COMPARISON of all AAC partners‘ Farm Advisory System CZECH REPUBLIC ÚZPI Institute of Agriculture and Food Information May 2006

Czech Republic – short history of extension services and comparison A previous Farm advisory system of Czech republic was dissolved after political changes in early 1990s In the year 2000 there was adopted a new concept based on 3 pillars: I.consulting within a public interest (100%costs covered by state), II.production- technology consulting (70% cov.by state), III.consulting for pre-accession programs (100% cov.by client) This system has been changed after the accession to EU. The MoA adopted a new concept for the period of , based on private consultants

Czech Republic – short history of extension services and comparison Short history - conclusion and comparison The agricultural consultation went through many adjustment processes, especially in the new Member States in comparison with the system of Western countries, which has continuously developed

Czech republic – financing of extension services Czech Republic realises advisory programmes from national sources – subsidies for farmers (up to 80% cost of service covered by state-subsidies,…20% by client) (in the past the financing of consulting activities was realized through the subsidies for private consultants. The effectiveness of the use of such funds was critized by farmers and also by inspection bodies of the MoA)

General farm advisory systems - comparison State/RegionOwnership Austriastate Bavariastate Czech Republicprivate Hungaryprivate, semi-private Polandstate Saxonystate Slovak Republicprivate

Czech republic – educations and training of agricultural advisors In order to ensure the quality level of consulting services there will still be carried on a certification of private consultants that commenced in 2003 pursuant to the Directive for the certification of consultants entered into the Registry of MoA Consultants‘ qualification requirements: -University education and a proven 3-year professional experiences within the certification area, - or Specialized high-school education and a proven 4- year professional experiences, -or High-school education and 5-year professional exp.

FAS in Czech Republic within the context of cross-compliance In compliance with the CR 1782/2003 the MoA operates the agricultural consulting system based on private consultants for consulting services within the areas: -A water protection -Animal welfare -Ecological farming -Optimizing the economy of agricultural enterprises

FAS within the context of cross-compliance comparison State, public institutions play an important role in the provision of farm advice in all member state and even more so in the case of environmental issues. In a few member states the provision of advice is fully in the hands of public administration (e.g. Austria, Poland…) In some Member State advice is provided by a combination of various organisations (combination of states institutions, farmer‘s organisations, NGOs, private advisors. In a few member states there are only private advisers (e.g. The Czech republic)

FARM ADVISORY SYSTEM of Ministry of Agriculture – Czech republic A farmer is obliged to observe laws, regulations to meet cross-compliance Present advisory system is supported an endowment title, which subscribes the farm audit relating to SMRs – statutory management requirements and GAEC – good agricultural and environmental conditions. A new advisory system is preparing : -At first there will be a SELF-ASSESSMENT by a farmer -The farmer finds out contingent deficiencies according to the CHECK-LIST by himself,herself -An advisor will help him to decide how to solve the problem and suggests an optimal and economic solution.

Advisory system (the most important characteristic) INFORMATION - availability CONSULTANCY - competence SERVICES OF EDUCATION - expertness

INFORMATION – further education Czech republic The aim : to inform farmers about cross- compliance – SMRs and GAEC Resources : - „KIS“ – regional information centres - Programm „Operational programme“ 2.2 – the measure – EDUCATION Seminars Courses Methodics

FARM ADVISORY SYSTEM THE AIM: to ensure the advisory system by qualified experts Accreditation, to set the conditions of enter to the system Register, to prove knowledge Education, lifelong education Support of special knowledge, transfer of science and research

Services The aim: the support of consultancy and tranfer of information Self-assessment check lists – files Creation of methodics Web support E-learning Short-term educational actions for private advisors, members of staff of „KIS“ To create a system of long-term courses for private advisors and staff of „KIS“ = info centres, in the frame of lifelong education in cooperation with Agriculture Universities,Colleges and Secondary agriculture school To use international experience and educational institutions in the Member states for another edudation of private agriculture advisors

Consultancy in the area of „Meeting Standards“ Farmers are obliged to observe law and regulations They get to know the information about the law through: the journal,TV,web sites Ministery of Agriculture – Agriculture Agencies „KIS“ – Regional information centres The Agrarian Chamber Agricultural University, College, Secondary agricultural school

The Ways – how to get the information Study – directly from primary resources E-learning Educational actions -Seminars – a passive form -Courses – an active form -Exhibitions -„Infopult“ (the information board) Cofinancing from „the Operational Programme“ The aim : to create a functioning model of information‘s transfer in co-operation with the Agrarian Chamber (via MoA) for farmers

Self-assessment system The system of questions will be worked out (electronic or paper form). The farmer will carry out the self- assessment by this questionnaire – to find compliance or non compliance with legislation. The farmer may ask advisor in case of problem

Advisor Present farm advisory system is supported by national subsidies.This endowment title supports the farm audit relating to SMRs – statutory management requirements and GAEC – good agricultural and environmental conditions. A new advisory system is preparing : -after a SELF-ASSESSMENT by a farmer (The farmer finds out contingent deficiencies by himself, herself according to the CHECK-LIST) -An advisor will help him to decide how to solve the problem and suggests optimal and economic solution.

Tasks To work out decision-making system of check lists Creation of rules supporting provision of advisory services to remedy of shortcomings System of advisors‘ education and accreditation system The rules of accreditation and demands on advisors, ethics code, professional qualification

Thank you for your attention