Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
farmers and local representatives. In Bulgaria, collaboration with the BSPB started with
training sessions to raise farmers' awareness of the value of HNVF. As beneficiaries of
advisory services, farmers maintained good relations with their regional office. In Portugal,
the training process was usually organized by key promoters of the collective efficiency
strategy, took the form of visits to production units, and often covered the production and
processing of wild resources - with an emphasis on the differentiation and diversification
of products by innovating and improving traditional products.
Learning about
marketing activities
concerned direct marketing of local food (part of
the HNVF concept); diversification; promotion of traditional foods to new customers;
creating better quality food; and increasing farmers' incomes. New skills were required,
such as good hygiene practices; design skills (jar choice, packing, and labelling); and
marketing techniques to retain customers and to build long-term relationships.
Learning with regard to the organization of
collective marketing
resulted in the opening
of a regular open air market in the St Amarin Valley and in the collective management of a
farm shop. In addition to production and processing,
capacity building
included marketing
products and access to consultation services. At this level, there was promotion of
entrepreneurship and related skills, as well as investment in searching for innovative
marketing channels, such as in the European 'eco' market. Capacity building in the areas of
production, processing and marketing was also connected to events aimed at supporting
networking among producers. It should be noted that professional networking and trust -
building received particular attention, and it was possible to verify learning regarding: (i)
the importance of collaboration and partnership in achieving economic scale; (ii) the
importance of sharing leadership and commitment; and (iii) the synergetic effect of sharing
knowledge and visions for the region. Furthermore in Bulgaria, consultation and training on
the implementation of agri-environmental measures, organization of visits to exchange
experiences, and provision of information, technical advice and practical tools, were major
constituents of the learning process.
Advisory services
and sharing knowledge about sector-
specific legislation and funding, as well as promoting know-how on licensing processes or
funding schemes enabled by institutions, also contributed to the learning process in the
Portuguese and Bulgarian cases. In Bulgaria in the field of financial issues and grant
application procedures, the regional agricultural advisory service was a key actor; whereas
at the level of marketing design and good hygiene, it was the BSPB Mobile Advisory
Centre who played the key role and made an important contribution to the provision of
advice. In all three cases the empowerment of individual producers was notable.
Discussion
What changed?
Changes in terms of understanding, policy framing, activities, collaboration and
networking, and values have occurred in all three initiatives but at different levels and
across different time-scales. In general, the three initiatives changed local culture,
particularly for farmers living in protected and less-productive areas, such that these areas
have been re-valued. The effect was a greater concern and awareness for the protection of
local ecosystems, resources and inhabitants.
Search WWH ::
Custom Search