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agriculture and food economy in poland

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programme, whose implementation was commenced <strong>in</strong> 2002 <strong>and</strong> the<br />

completion was shifted from 2004 to 2005, is targeted at <strong>in</strong>habitants of villages<br />

<strong>and</strong> small towns.<br />

Actions <strong>and</strong> supportive measures funded from the WB loan <strong>and</strong> co-f<strong>in</strong>anced<br />

from the Polish national budget totall<strong>in</strong>g Euro 300 million comprise the follow<strong>in</strong>g:<br />

- grant<strong>in</strong>g micro-loans to create new jobs<br />

- f<strong>in</strong>anc<strong>in</strong>g programmes of reorientation/<strong>and</strong> retra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g of the workforce<br />

- f<strong>in</strong>anc<strong>in</strong>g school education <strong>in</strong> rural areas<br />

- co-f<strong>in</strong>anc<strong>in</strong>g construction of rural <strong>in</strong>frastructure<br />

- co-f<strong>in</strong>anc<strong>in</strong>g creation of local <strong>and</strong> regional adm<strong>in</strong>istration<br />

Appropriate m<strong>in</strong>istries <strong>and</strong> local self-governments are engaged <strong>in</strong> the<br />

Programme implementation.<br />

Agricultural Advisory Services<br />

AGRICULTURAL POLICY<br />

State agricultural advisory services f<strong>in</strong>anced from the national budget are an<br />

important element of aid for farmers, by provid<strong>in</strong>g advice to farmers <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>habitants<br />

of rural areas on a wide scale, free of charge. Agricultural Advisory Services played a<br />

particularly important role dur<strong>in</strong>g preparations for the EU membership<br />

referendum, for accession to the EU <strong>and</strong> right after accession. Agricultural advisors<br />

were ma<strong>in</strong> providers of <strong>in</strong>formation on rules applicable to <strong>agriculture</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />

accession <strong>and</strong> a necessity of comply<strong>in</strong>g with specific sanitary <strong>and</strong> veter<strong>in</strong>ary<br />

requirements <strong>in</strong> agricultural production. Along with pay<strong>in</strong>g agencies’ staff, advisors<br />

helped farmers fill <strong>in</strong> applications for direct payments <strong>and</strong> prepared farmers <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong>habitants of rural areas to be able to draw on Structural Funds aid.<br />

In Pol<strong>and</strong> advisory services operate with<strong>in</strong> two structures:<br />

- Voivodship Advisory Services Centres (ODRs) together with field units<br />

report<strong>in</strong>g to voivods <strong>and</strong> f<strong>in</strong>anced from voivodship budgets<br />

- National Advisory Centre for Agriculture <strong>and</strong> Rural Development<br />

(NACARD) <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g two divisions <strong>and</strong> seven regional centres, report<strong>in</strong>g to<br />

M<strong>in</strong>ister of Agriculture <strong>and</strong> Rural Development <strong>and</strong> f<strong>in</strong>anced from the<br />

MARD budget.<br />

Overall, 5 315 staff are employed <strong>in</strong> ODRs <strong>and</strong> NACARD, of whom 2 992 field<br />

advisors, 1 048 specialists <strong>and</strong> 322 management staff. Agricultural Advisory Centres<br />

cooperate with research <strong>and</strong> scientific units, national <strong>and</strong> regional <strong>in</strong>stitutions as<br />

well as agricultural organisations <strong>and</strong> companies work<strong>in</strong>g for the benefit of<br />

<strong>agriculture</strong> <strong>and</strong> rural development. Dissem<strong>in</strong>ation of <strong>in</strong>formation useful for farms’<br />

operations as well as enhanc<strong>in</strong>g farmers <strong>and</strong> rural areas <strong>in</strong>habitants’ qualifications,<br />

enabl<strong>in</strong>g them to benefit from state aid <strong>and</strong> external funds takes various forms, such<br />

as direct contacts with farmers, tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g courses, sem<strong>in</strong>ars, agricultural fairs,<br />

exhibitions <strong>and</strong> other promotion events, website, advisory centres’ publications,<br />

bullet<strong>in</strong>s, magaz<strong>in</strong>es, leaflets, posters, video cassettes, etc.<br />

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