The use of impact indicators for the evaluation of support for investment in agricultural holdings : case study of the Rural Development Programme for Wallonia ( )

Presented by : Monika BECK FUSAGx

Overview Rural development policy Evaluation Investissement in agricultural holdings Gross farm income Conclusion of the first part of the research Current research

Rural development policy Second Pillar of the CAP since Agenda 2000 Financial framework Governed by Council Regulation (EC) N°1257/1999 Nine measures or chapters

Chapters of Council regulation (EC) N°1257/1999 I Investment in agricultural holdings II Setting-up of young farmers III Training IV Early retirement V LFA and Areas with environmental constraints VI Agri-environnement VII Processing and marketing of agricultural products VIII Forestry IX Promoting the adaptation and development of rural areas

Evaluation Programming « cycle » : example of RDPs ( ) Appraisal Programming Financing Implementation Appraisal Evaluation ex ante 1999 Mid-term Evaluation 2003 Ex post evaluation 2007 Impact evaluation

Evaluation : EC Guidelines Common evaluation questions Criteria Indicators Purpose : get comparable evaluation results from >80 regions in EU Member states – establish a synthesis at EU-level

Measures of CR (EC)N°1257/99 CEQCriteriaIndicators I Investment in AH II Setting-up 578 … ……… VI Agri-environnement VII Processing and marketin VIII Forestry … ……… Cross-cutting questions Total

Investment in agricultural holdings 7 relevant CEQ, regarding agricultural incomes, reduction of production costs, increased product quality, diversification, environmentally friendly farming and animal welfare 11 criteria 17 indicators (mostly quantitative)

Some of the indicateurs (17) Gross farm income Output per hectare Output per hour of labour Cost per unit of basic product sold Number of assisted holdings introducing alternative activities Share of turnover from alternative act. Price ratio of quality improved versus basic products Gross sales of quality improved products Nbr of full-time jobs created by alternative activities …etc. ………

Practical difficulties for establishing the indicators : data collection Unclear definition of key terms (diversification, improved quality of farm products, environmental friendly farming, animal welfare) Incomplete monitoring Indicators based on accounting - data protection rules Costly and time consuming data collection at the level of beneficiaries

Availibility of data at the mid-term review Basic data (administrative files) Number of indicators concerned Available1 Partially available3 Not available13

Indicators and possibilities of data collection Possibilities of data collection Number of indicators concerned Monitoring6 Agricultural accounts4 Beneficiaries7

Gross farm income Data source (accountancies) Agricultural holding Representative time period Baseline situation

Conclusion Evaluation input into policy making and management tool for policy implementation ? CEQ, criteria and indicators should be simplified Selection of a small number of key indicators

Current research Does the « gross farm income » form a relevant indicator at EU – level? Detailed analysis of the « gross farm income » and its relation to investment and financial sustainability of agricultural holdings in the Walloon region. Analysis of the « gross farm income » in several regions of the EU

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