“Agriculture and rural development from the perspective of IPARD2: How to use it better?”
The first session of WG-1, Agriculture and Rural Development was held on 20 March 2018, at the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia (“Boris Trajkovski” venue). The theme of this working session was: Agriculture and rural development from the perspective of IPARD 2: How to use it better?
Over 70 participants from different societal sectors attended the session (representatives from relevant state institutions, associations of farmers, trade union organizations, representatives of agricultural cooperatives, individual farmers, representatives of the academic community).
The session was moderated by Professor Mileva Gjurovska, pointing out the objectives and methodology of the work of the NCEU-MK. Professor Tatjana Prentovic, a member of the Parliamentary Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development, addressed to the present guests. She stressed the importance of the pre-accession funds for the development of the agriculture sector.In the introductory speech, addressed Mr. Nikola Babovski – Director of the Agency for Financial Support of Agriculture and Rural Development, where he explained the role of the Agency in further development in this sector.
Professor Roman Serenches from the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, in his presentation, mainly focused on the role of the Fund for Guidance and Guarantee in Agriculture, based on the Slovak experience.
Analysis of the national experts followed, presented by Professor Aleksandra Martinovska-Stojcheska (FASF) and Biljana Mitrevska (NFF).
The debate was moderated by Co-chairs Maja Lazareska Joveska (MAFWE) and Vasko Hadzievski (Association of Agroeconomists of the RM). Within the framework of the expert analysis, it was emphasized that the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA2) for the farmers, the food processing sector and support of small businesses in the rural areas, in the period 2014-2020, will have a fund of 60 million euros.
It was mentioned that, apart from the realization of the development goals, IPA 2 Program should introduce the candidate countries for using the Fund for Guidance and Guarantee in Agriculture within the framework of the European Common Policy.
The key points identified during the session, were the following: Property rights (exceptionally well-known problem); access and creation of technical documentation (incomplete applications, proprietary barriers to foreign investors in agriculture); the organization of public calls (training of competent officials in state institutions); Improving the capacity of the institutions for servicing the IPARD funds; Informing and communication (insufficient understanding of the calls by the farmers); unsolved urban planning; Insufficient access to start-up capital.
During the session a debate among the members of the working group took place, where the majority stressed that they are supportive of NCEU-MK for providing a platform where different stakeholders can meet and debate about agriculture.
The main direction of the discussion was the manner of functioning of the relevant state institutions, especially the Agency for Financial Support of the Agriculture. At the session were adopted recommendations for improvement of this important area.