good practices national rural development network issue 5 YEAR II, NOVEMBER 2014
the roots of europe
Ministerul Agriculturii și Dezvoltării Rurale REGIONAL OFFICES Support Unit for the National Rural Development Network
BRĂILA Bdul Independenţei, nr. 282, et. 1, PO Box 810124, [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS Tel.: 0339 732 009, Fax: 0339 732 016
CRAIOVA FOREWORD 2 Str. Libertăţii, nr. 19, Facultatea de Agricultură și Horticultură, cam. L-311, et. 2, PO Box 200421, [email protected], Tel.: 0251 460 377, Fax: 0251 423 651 PROJECTS FROM ROMANIA 6
ZALĂU CHAPTER 1. LOCAL ACTION GROUPS 8 Str. Kossuth Lajos, nr. 49, PO Box 450010, [email protected] Tel.: 0360 404 056, Fax: 0360 404 158 Projects are fructified in the Romanian Plain 8
TÂRGU MUREŞ Olt draws programs worth millions of Euro 12 Str. Mihai Eminescu, nr. 60, PO Box 540331, [email protected] Tel.: 0365 430 349, Fax: 0365 430 351 CHAPTER 2. FARMS 16
IAŞI An ultramodern greenhouse 16 Zona de Agrement Ciric - Complexul de Agrement Ciric, PO Box 700064, [email protected] Tel.: 0332 881 281, Fax: 0332 881 282 Step by step development 19
TIMIŞOARA CHAPTER 3. PROCESSING 24 Bdul Take Ionescu, nr. 53, et. 2, biroul nr. 26, PO Box 300074, [email protected] Tel.: 0356 460 982, Fax: 0356 460 983 Bread to everyone’s taste 24
TÂRGOVIŞTE The mill in Giarmata deserves its fame 27 Str. Vărzaru Armaşu, nr. 7A, PO Box 130169, [email protected] CHAPTER 4. NON-AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES 30 Tel.: 0345 100 025, Fax: 0345 100 605 Investments in concrete, profit from concrete 30 BUCUREŞTI Str. Nicolae Filipescu, nr. 39-41, et. 6, Sector 2, PO Box 020961, [email protected] Rest and comfort in the piedmont of Argeș River 33 Tel.: 031 690 0214, Fax: 031 690 0215 PROJECTS FROM EUROPE 38
POLAND AND SCOTLAND – The Polish and the Scottish invite customers to taste their food 40
The text of this publication is only for information purposes and shall entail no legal liability. MALTA – The certified Maltese environmentalism 43 Additional information on MARD and NSU may be accessed on the Internet at: www.madr.ro, www.rndr.ro ITALY – Supply chain for high quality potatoes 46 USR, Publication Department ISSN 2285-4185 GREECE – Greek pottery shakes hands with nanotechnology 49 ISSN-L 2285-4185 © RNDR, 2014
The texts of this publication may be reproduced only subject to the specification of the source. Printed in Romania.
Copyright photographs: the beneficiaries of the projects described in this publication and shutterstock.com Copyright cover photographs: shutterstock.com
1 FOREWORD Classification criteria for good practices In regard to the thematic agriculture, forestry, forestry The second classification good practices. Growing the viability structuring of good practices, the holdings, food industry and criterion for good practices is the and the competitiveness of the National Program for Rural non-agricultural activities. economic-financial aspect. From this activities in rural areas is only Development (PNDR) is the reference point of view, two main categories of possible by developing a knowledge document, due to the action priorities At the same time, there are good projects/models of good practices are base supported by a scientific and the measurements it sets. This practices in promoting the rural identified and they can be developed research adapted to the local program was elaborated in order to areas through sustainable tourism. according to PNDR: those falling on demands or to the new contexts. achieve three key objectives in the the minimis schemes and those for Know-how is needed in the area of field of agriculture and rural An example in this field would be which co-financing support is modernizing the farm, managing development: facilitating the the good practices in the granted amounting up to 200 000 forests or adapting them to climate transformation and refurbishment of agri-tourism field which aims to Euro. changes. the dual structure of agriculture and combine specific autochthonous forestry, maintaining and improving elements with high standards in the The third criterion is the The fifth criterion lies in the the quality of the environment in services offered, by the safety and organizational/administrative-terri- transferability particularities of the rural areas of Romania, as well as comfort provided to tourists. torial level to which each project projects, aiming also for their managing and facilitating the applies: national, regional, local, replication possibilities, depending transition of the work force from There are also examples of good organizational. For example, a on contextual similarities. agriculture to other sectors. practices in the growth and national strategy may be considered diversification of rural economy, a good practice model if it is To conclude, the classification of The first classification referring to the development of small correlated and integrated into the good practices is built in relation to criterion for good practices is and middle enterprises, diversifying regional strategies, based on the real the diversification of the definitions defined by the main incidence fields services and production, preserving resources and potential in those taking into account the functions and by their convergence with the biodiversity and its environment or in areas and if it is adapted to the performed, the process developed PNDR measurements. Thus, there the field of rural development, common needs observed locally. and the possibility of applying those are good practices in the field of implemented for improving the local good practices in other contexts, the rural economy classified depending governance and for valuing the The fourth criterion consists of innovative nature and the on the main interest fields: resources of the soil and of the subsoil. the innovation element present in the transferability level.
2 3 4 5 PROJECTS FROM ROMANIA
LEGEND:
The areas from which the examples of good practices have been selected are presented in the following pages
6 7 CHAPTER 1. LOCAL ACTION GROUPS Projects are fructified in the Romanian Plain
The Local Action Group (LAG) Călușari) and for recreation Găvanu-Burdea is a public-private (especially for fishing). These partnership according to the opportunities are amplified by the program Liaison Entre Actions de demographic structure of the Développement de l’Économie population and by the type of Rurale (LEADER, connections specific occupations and the between actions destined to the traditional customs of the rural economic development), Axis inhabitants. 4, PNDR. The partnership was initiated by the Association of the Still, the area faces problems with Communes on Cotmenei Valley, the active population decrease, the Bârla commune, Argeș County, with small dimensions of agricultural 34 partners from the start. Since the exploitations compared to the validation of the local development efficiency standards, the insufficient plan and until November 2014, the exploitation of the touristic and partnership became balanced and cultural potential, the weak representative for the area, therefore development of small farms and of also aimed to grow the tourism through Measure 121, which aim to gathering 47 associates. the production, processing and potential of the commune, by acquire machinery and equipment. marketing associative farms. In promoting the 12 historical Moreover, through Measure 123 Găvanu-Burdea land is located in order to counteract all these monuments, the local customs and seven projects were accessed having the area of the two plains of Argeș problems, 32 projects were accessed traditions and the natural resources the highest value in the entire LAG: County, the Tall Plain of Pitești and in the LAG, with a total value of 1 (natural sites, Vlășcuța Lake). The 732 103 Euro. Găvanu-Burdea Plain, whereas most 963 376 Euro. The territorial-ad- benefits brought thus to the of the localities forming a part of the ministrative units in the community come from the In order to highlight the good group are in the latter plain. The composition of Găvanu-Burdea LAG development of tourism, by practice generated by the plans land is in the south side of the implemented or are under the increasing the numbers of the aiming to grow the added value of county and it includes 13 localities, implementation of 14 projects, visitors and the duration of their agricultural and forestry products, ten in Argeș County and three in Olt whereas 13 of them are financed stay, but especially by the we selected the project having as County. The area lies on 99 744 ha, through Measure 322 and one of multiplicative effect of this activity: beneficiary SC Alex Construct SRL, with a plane landscape, with them is financed through Measure the general evolution engaged in the elaborated for building and meadows and groves and with an 313 – “Establishing tourism other branches of economy and in equipping the milk processing area considerably covered by water: promotion and information center in the social aspect, the wellness of the center in Săpata commune. This lakes, creeks and rivers. The Stolnici commune”. With an commune, growing the living project was necessary for many population in the area amounts to investment exceeding 99 341 Euro, standard of the inhabitants and reasons: the insufficient nationally 49 333 inhabitants, where the the objective of the project is to improving the image of the area authorized production capacity, the average population density is rehabilitate and transform the nationwide and outside Romania. lack in the field for specialized 49.5 inhabitants/square km. cultural house into the Local Center production units equipped with the for Tourism Promotion and At the same time, Găvanu-Burdea last generation processing In the area, a significant Information, in order to extend the LAG managed to contract eight technology and adapted to European agricultural potential was observed, area of the activities and of the basic projects through Measure 312 – standards, the continuous increase especially for cereal culture, yet also public services offered to the “Support for creating and developing of the goat milk and goat products for the cultural tourism (whereas the population by means of the local small enterprises”, with a total value demand, given their nutritive and area is renowned as the homeland of public administration. The project of 290 229 Euro, and three projects curative properties. An important
8 9 aspect was the fact that the depending on the estimated trends company, at the time of filling the of the market and encouraging new financing request, owned an marketplaces, growing the agricultural farm with 142 goats, effectiveness by using modern 122 ha cultivated for feeding the technologies meeting the animals and 25 000 m² of leased requirements of the European Union land which was needed for the (EU) and complying with the food investment. Thus, based on the safety regulations of the European 99 976 Euro grant obtained, the forums, the development and beneficiary decided to acquire the consolidation of private competitive equipment and the machinery economic agents and growing the needed for milk processing: a number of job opportunities in the reception and storage module and a rural area while supporting the milk pasteurizing line, a module for maintenance of the existing jobs by producing cheese, two milk permanently investing in human automatic machines and laboratory capital. equipment. Through this project, the company managed to grow the milk production capacity, obtained with Contact details: the help of the specialized The Association Găvanu-Burdea processing equipment pasteurized Local Action Group milk for PET and for the automatic Bârla commune, Bârla village 127, machines for goat milk and goat Argeș County cheese. President: Ion Pană Tel.: 0759 039 040 The objectives achieved certify Tel. /Fax: 0248 678 090 the necessity of such projects: E-mail: improving the competitiveness and [email protected] consolidating businesses with a high Website: development potential, guiding www.gal-gavanuburdea.ro
10 11 Olt draws programs worth millions of Euro LAG – “ROMULA MALVA” is dimensions and the incomes from its located in the West of Olt County, on exploitation, by acquiring eight milk the right bank of the river with the cows and 2.03 ha of arable land, same name. Its area is located in the whereas our target for the third year close vicinity of Caracal town, close to is 17.868 ESU”. Before filling the important towns as Slatina, located financing application, the beneficiary 42 km away from the center of the owned in the production base 16 cattle area, Craiova, located 54 km away and and 18 swine, whereas the economic from Pitești, located 111 km away, thus dimension of the exploitation was the LAG having a great positioning in 13,178 ESU. relation to great industrial centers and county residence towns. In order to obtain the results expected, he aimed to achieve a series On the other hand, the area covered of objectives in the implementation by LAG – “ROMULA MALVA” covers period: improving the management of 12 administrative-territorial units, the exploitation, growing the volume – cultivated with sunflower, 0.07 ha – commercialized agricultural including from an administrative of the production destined to trade family gardens, 0.16 ha - strawberries, production – thus growing the perspective 11 localities in Olt county and implicitly the incomes from the 0.05 ha vineyard, one cow, 2 goats, incomes. and one in Dolj county, all the localities exploitation, by improving the general 2 pigs, 15 chickens, 10 geese and being located in the rural area. performance of the farm, by adapting 14 female turkeys. At the same time, the production the production to the market structure of the farm will change, On the 31st of October 2014, the requirements and by complying with The grant applied for is used for amounting to 3.00 ha of wheat, situation of the projects contracted by the environment protection and work developing the agricultural farm 1.82 ha of sunflower, 0.39 ha of corn, the LAG are as follows: 5 were safety European regulations. based on the animal and vegetal 0.07 ha of family gardens, 0.47 ha financed through Measure 141, having production, by modifying the of strawberries, 0.05 ha of a total value of 22 500 Euro, 17 were By developing his holding, the structure of the crops and enlarging vineyard, 3 milk cows, 2 goats, 2 pigs financed through Measure 112, having contractor of the project offers job the number of the animals. and 70 chickens. the total value of 612 000 Euro, opportunities for the inhabitants of 13 projects were financed through rural areas, helping them to obtain In order to succeed all these, the The rural tourism met lately a Measure 312, having the total value of alternative incomes and contributing beneficiary decided to implement in growth which gives hope for the 160 910 Euro, three projects were thus to raising their living standard. the exploitation a set of technical, future and opens the gates for great financed through Measure 313, economical, administrative and opportunities. The intelligent use of having a total value of 370 246 Euro, Another project which can be organizational measures targeted to the natural and anthropogenic 12 projects were financed through considered a good practice in the LAG grow the production volume destined resources, corroborated with the Measure 322, having a total value of – “ROMULA MALVA” is the one for sale, guiding it according to the rational structuring of rural spaces 984 045 Euro and two projects were achieved through Measure 141 of market requirements and adapting and with the support of all the financed through Measure 421, having PNDR 2007-2013, having as applicant the holding to the European “actors” interested, can bring the long the total value of 84 000 Euro. Mr. Marian Țecu, inhabitant of standards. expected benefits. The necessity for Frăsinetu village, Dobrosloveni the investment made by Laurențiu Mitra, inhabitant of the commune. He owned in 2012, when he The result of implementing these Elena-Magdalena Mare in Studina locality, Olt county, stated at decided to access the grant, a mixed measures is represented by the Dobrosloveni commune, with the help the year of 2013 when he managed to subsistence agricultural farm with the growth of the agricultural of the 86 550 Euro grant, offered by obtain a 40 000 Euro grant through economic dimensions of 3.232 ESU, exploitation with at least 3 ESU Measure 313 (50% of the total value), Measure 112: “By this project we aim formed of 3 ha cultivated with wheat, compared to the initial situation and derives from the touristic potential of to develop the farm by growing its 0.39 ha – cultivated with corn, 2.13 ha increasing by over 20% the the area.
12 13 The objectives of the investment A short while after signing the include the development of tourism contract, the beneficiary stated: related activities in the rural area, “Accessing this grant is a great creating five jobs, growing the opportunity for us, being the only added value in tourism related possibility to implement a project activities, improving and which will not only value the tourism diversifying infrastructure and potential of the area, but will also tourism services in the area, contribute to the economic growing the number of the visitors development of the commune by and erecting a building working as creating new jobs”. a three stars tourism cottage with seven accommodation units and ten Contact details: parking places. Local Action Group Romula Malva Dobrosloveni locality, Tudor The hut Ground Floor + 2 stories Vladimirescu Street No. 1, Room 3, has an advantage compared to other Olt County accommodation places destined for President: Gheorghe Todorașcu tourists, because it is placed in the Tel.: 0786 038 847 middle of nature and because it offers E-mail: as recreational activities fishing in the [email protected] aquaculture pond, hunting and other Website: recreational activities. www.romula-malva-gal.ro
14 15 CHAPTER 2. FARMS An ultramodern greenhouse technologies within a protected system, • Arranging a technical area body Project title: Building greenhouses with renewable heating sources to produce renewable energy and use it. with on a 350 m² area, including Project financed through Axis 1 of the National Program for Rural Development, Also, the operational objectives of the the following functional rooms: Measure 121 - “Modernization of agricultural exploitations” project were to promote investments sanitary filter, technical chamber, Beneficiary: SC SERRA-IVAS SRL Project location: Nicolae Bălcescu commune, Constanța County within an agricultural exploitation from pumping station and drilled well, Development region: South-East the vegetal sector, by building pallet storage room, pellets/ Implementation period: December 2009 - December 2013 constructions and acquiring new briquettes storage room, SAS Total budget (with TVA): 7 493 405 lei machinery and equipment, as well as passage and heating chamber, all of Grant: 3 470 979 lei raising the added value of the these for placing the utilities and Co-financing (beneficiary’s contribution): 4 022 426 lei agricultural products. the command and control Subjects: Valuing the agricultural potential and/or growing the productivity of the centralized system; agricultural farms, processing and marketing of agrifood products, encouraging By this project, the following • Building a 250 m² storage for innovation activities were implemented: temporarily storing tomato • Building a greenhouse with the production and primary processing The story began in 2008 when a used for treating plants against pests, area of 8 640 m², in order to tomato production, formed of the married couple named Ianţoc together avoiding therefore a decrease in the produce vegetables in protected following functional rooms: with their two sons decided to develop a tomatoes’ quality. areas. The greenhouse is only one • Unisex sanitary filter; greenhouse to supply for the entire year building (the constructive type) • Reception, washing-sorting: the clients in the area. Consequently, The greenhouse is covered with a with galvanized steel structure, here the reception of raw they acquired a land and with the help double inflatable folio and the heating is “gothic” profile (the roof), with a materials takes place, being of a consultant they prepared the done with the help of the biomass heating system, using a nutritive afterwards directed on the flow, project for accessing European funds, plants (pellets), thus from renewable substrate for the crops. The depending on the quality, obtaining consequently the financing sources. equipment includes carts and towards the deposit or towards needed and successfully implementing platforms for harvesting and for the primary processing; the project, building an ultramodern The project is directed towards maintaining the crops, • A storage room for the greenhouse. continuous learning, by applying new electromagnetic vibrator for temporary storage of tomatoes, cultivation technologies in a hydroponic pollinating, fumigator for equipped with refrigeration The climate conditions in the system which is scarcely used in our phytosanitary treatments, folio for equipment; greenhouse are monitored by means of country. It stimulates the creation of covering the soil; • A room for primary processing a series of sensors, thermometers and new ideas especially in regard to using moisture analyzers, whereas the data renewable resources (the heating plant registered are sent to a computer of the greenhouse can be adapted to system maintaining the parameters to a other types of pellets from vegetal specific level which is adequate for waste). Also, a short supply chain was greenhouse cultures. created since the fresh tomatoes are delivered directly from the farm to the For a uniform fructification, the supermarkets in Constanța, which are pollination is made biologically, using only 30 km away from the farm, bumble-bees, having a positive effect without the need to use intermediaries. upon the quantity and quality of the production. The solution adapted for The accomplishment of this project pest control is also biological, being aimed to grow the competitiveness of used for prevention and curative the agricultural sector. The specific purposes, based on the antagonism of objectives of the project were to species. Thus, no chemical methods are introduce new tomato cultivation
16 17 Step by step development and for mixing/crushing: here a • Building a mobile bridge for the Project title: Semi-Subsistence farm II Badea CI Constantin-Nicolae mix of soda/vegetable pulp are quantitative determination of the Project financed through Axis 1 of the National Program for Rural Development, produced, packed in PETs of products delivered: an auto scale Measure 141 - “Supporting agricultural subsistence farms” 5/10/20 kg and delivered above ground, called generically Beneficiary: Badea Constantin-Nicolae –Individual Enterprise consequently to HORECA field mobile bridge or weighing machine, Project location: Vitomirești commune, Olt commune (hotels, restaurants, coffee with the maximum weighing Development region: South-West shops) or fast-foods, which use capacity of 50-60 tons, the Implementation period: March 2012 - currently the product for various dishes; minimum length of 14 m, with Total budget: 7 500 Euro (for five years) • A refrigeration storage for pressure sensors sending the values Grant: 7 500 Euro (for five years) Co-financing (beneficiary’s contribution): Not applicable temporary storing until the to a process computer equipped Subjects: Diversifying agricultural production, valuing agricultural potential, delivery moment, the tomato with management software; growing the productivity of agricultural farms paste; • Arranging the fencing and • A storage room for the PETs systematizing the objective: which will be used in packing driveways and rainwater draining Semi-subsistence farms is the most beneficiary with the incomes needed the tomato paste; gutters; frequent term used for defining during the period of restructuring and • A storage room for the wooden • Purchasing motor vehicles with agricultural peasant households transforming the semi-subsistence boxes and the cardboard boxes; cold resistance fitting for producing for meeting the family needs farm into an exploitation oriented • A storage room for delivery transporting tomatoes and tomato and for the market. generally towards the market, by the packs for delivering primary paste: one with the working load of sustainable use of the production production: tomatoes in high 0.8-0.85 t and one of 1.6-2.0 t. Constantin-Nicolae Badea performs factors and by improving the performance wooden boxes and the agricultural activity ever since 1998 management as a consequence of cardboard boxes with various, By achieving the project, the with his family in Vitomirești commune, diversifying the agricultural production usually 5-6 kg capacities; production of the greenhouse reached in Olt County. The agricultural products adapted to the local conditions. • A delivery room: with the help 350 t tomato/ one production cycle. obtained in the farm are consumed in of an electric forklift, his household and the surplus is sold on The financing contract was signed in merchandise from the tomato The implementation of the project the local market. March 2012, whereas the role of the storage room is sent to the brought direct benefits locally by beneficiary was to elaborate plans for vehicles on pallets. In the creating seven new jobs and by The financial support required and equipping the farm and for developing storage room high technology growing the incomes locally. Currently received through Measure 141 of the it, ensuring the production growth, for machinery for washing, sorting the company has 15 employees, PNDR had the purpose of providing the the purpose of valuing the products on and processing tomatoes. whereas three of them are members of Ianţoc family, the beneficiary of the project.
Engaging the entire family into the business and implementing the project, by tenacity and sustained work, proves the effect of the cohesion of the forces for reaching the objectives proposed. Also, another lesson learned from this project was that the co-financing must be made early. In this case, this was the only difficulty which led however to extending the implementation period by one year.
18 19 the market. The incomes needed for the wheat and to the increase of the size of the family derive from here. The path area destined for plum trees to 1.88 ha. followed was to grow the work areas and the number of animals, for The participation of the increasing the productivity of the work semi-subsistence farm to supplying the and for ensuring a bigger production local market is significant both from the available for the market. quantity and from the quality perspective. The role of small During the first year, on 0.87 ha the semi-subsistence farms is important beneficiary cultivated corn, the socially too, whereas it ensures the equivalent of 0.185 ESU, and on 1.13 ha existence means for a great part of the he cultivated plums, the equivalent of rural population. 2.401 ESU. The beneficiary also owns two pigs and 50 chickens. The farm offers the food products needed locally. Their sale leads to the By means of this farm he trades growth of the agricultural holding’s 500 kg of dry plums, 500 kg of corn and incomes, which will be used in the 100 kg of pork. In the target year, he following period for investments made aims to reach the cultivation of 7 ha of in lands and animals.
20 21 22 23 CHAPTER 3. PROCESSING Bread to everyone’s taste refrigerating cabinets, a donut transport, one with a volume of 19 Project title: Extending the production capacity by building and equipping a bakery fryer, a filling device for cream m³, two for bread transport with a and pastry product factory by the state aid Scheme No. N578/2009, afferent to the cakes, a croissant rolling machine, volume of 15 m³ and one with Measure 123 an installation for thermal shocks, refrigerating insulations. Project financed through Axis 1 of The National Program for Rural Development, a refrigeration room, two planetary state aid Scheme No. N578/2009, afferent to Measure 123 - “Growing the added Following the implementation with value for agricultural and forestry products” mixers, two work desks for Beneficiary: SC ELDI BRUTĂRIA SRL refrigerated products, a gel spray no difficulties for the project, bread Project location: Bălăușeri commune, Agrișteu village, Mureș County machine, a machine for making production grew and pastry products Development region: Center mini-tarts, a baking line for production was diversified and the Implementation period: September 2011- September 2012 crackers, a vertical packing turnover of the company grew by 50%. Total budget: 3 130 830 Euro machine and a horizontal one, a At the same time, 76 new jobs were Grant: 1 565 415 Euro machine for dividing rolls and created. From the total number of new Co-financing (beneficiary’s contribution): 1 565 415 Euro donuts, systems for the raw employees, 40% were unemployed and Subject: Processing and marketing for agrifood products products, an automatic donut the rest were retrained at their jobs, by machine and a machine for making the Chamber of Commerce and The beneficiary of this product is a received the notification of the Agency salty and sweet dumplings. Industry of Mureș County. factory from Ardeal which is renowned for Financing Rural Investments • Purchasing motor vehicles: a for its bakery and pastry products (AFRI) in regard to accepting the special van equipped with In the offer of the factory, various which are tasty, natural and high request, and the financing contract was refrigerating aggregated white semi-white and black bread quality. From the beginning of the signed on the 5th of September 2011. installations, one with a useful types are found, as well as potato bread activity, the business grew volume of 32 m³, one for the bread specialties, rustic bread, rye bread, continuously, developing its production Within the project, the areas, the number of employees and implementation of which lasted for the retail stores, as well as the bakery 12 months, the following activities and pastry assortments. This were performed: modernization was possible with the • Execution of the works: a support of the European Agricultural production hall with an area of Fund for Rural Development (FEADR). 2490.90 m² was built, an access The necessity of the investment was way was arranged, the branching justified by the market request for of the utilities was performed and fabricated assortments and by the wish the electricity and gas utilities to supply the best quality products. were installed for the new construction; Consequently, in January 2010, the • The purchase of machinery and beneficiary started a complex project specific technological equipment: a targeting the extension of the water softener plant, a liquid yeast production capacity and the installation, three spiraled mixers, refurbishment of the existing areas, as nine additional mixer tanks, a well as equipping the factory with refrigerating room, a baking line, a modern technology machines. In order heat recovery system, a to submit the project, the beneficiary double-check oven, two rotative collaborated with a consulting ovens, an automatic wrapping company which prepared the financing machine and a manual one, two file submitted in July 2010. In inside covered silos, a water cooler, February 2011, the Beneficiary a water dispenser mixer, two
24 25 The mill in Giarmata deserves its fame graham bread or bread with seeds, workers in the pastry field. When pastry products as bars, croissants, submitting the project, the Project title: Modernization and refurbishment of the wheat mill 70 tons/ 24 hours, pies, Pogača, dough with various beneficiary had 180 employees, Giarmata, Timiș County Project financed through Axis 1 of The National Program for Rural Development, fillings, rolls with seeds, cakes, donuts, whereas after implementing it he Measure 123 – “Raising the added value of the agricultural and forestry products” croissants, sponge cakes and crackers. had 256 and currently the company Beneficiary: SC AGROMADI-H SRL has 358 employees. Project location: Giarmata commune, Timiș County The beneficiary distributes the Development region: West pastry products in 48 of his own stores The success factor for this project is Implementation period: March 2009 - March 2010 and in the supermarkets in Mureș, given by the growth of the turnover Total budget: 6 992 871 lei Harghita, Sibiu, Cluj and with over 50% and by creating over Grant: 3 496 435 lei Bistrița-Năsăud Counties. 100 jobs. In regard to the lessons Co-financing (beneficiary’s contribution): 3 496 436 lei learned based on the project Subject: Valuing the agricultural potential On the other hand, the project implementation, the beneficiary stated: implemented contributed to the local “With ambition, perseverance and During the last years, Giarmata 70 tons in 24 hours. Thus, even if the development by the fact that it with the wish to satisfy clients, the commune went through a visible 15 employees are required to work in created new jobs and trained proposed objectives can be achieved”. development process. Among the three shifts, due to the technologies highly successful accomplishments used, their work requires now only there lies the new mill of the commune supervising the machinery, whereas which continues the tradition of all the production line is mechanized. milling in this region. The bag is brought by machines on the industrial roller, until it reaches the Until recent years, there was a mill pallet, where the forklift takes it from, operating here ever since 1923, which transporting it to the storage room. was famous for the good flower that it produced. It was reconditioned and The mill is a last generation facility equipped with new high technology now, being provided with equipment and performance machinery, worth which meets all the quality standards. two million Euros. This economic place reentered into the production The flour production can be packed circuit due to the initiative of a young in bags with various capacities, female entrepreneur who was an depending on the client’s order, inhabitant of that locality. but there is also the possibility of delivering the flour in bulk quantities, The project was implemented for using the tanker of the mill. a period of 12 months and the mill which was in an advance state of decay At the Giarmata mill, innovating was refurbished, modernized and methods for grinding wheat are used. commissioned in March 2010. The old According to the statements of the mill was replaced and the building was beneficiary, a secret of grinding is consolidated in order to meet the new moisturizing the wheat. requirements. The bean must be moisturized By the investments made, the previously and afterwards it has to mill increased its capacity ten times, remain for 24 hours for maturation in reaching a production capacity of order for the water to enter the crust
26 27 and moisturize it. If the wheat is not The beneficiary is famous in the moisture uniformly, the bean will be area for the quality of the products burned when entering into the mill, because during the process of becoming rough and makes the flour obtaining the flour, no synthesis have a more dark aspect. breeders are used.
All the machinery purchased In order to certify the quality of through this project is high the raw materials and of the finished performance technology and they products, the mill also has an analysis are equipped with sensors and laboratory with high performance computers in order for their function machinery where all products are to be controlled accurately. The first tested, both the ones produced by the condition must be quality. beneficiary and the ones acquired from the producers in the area. The At the Giarmata mill all types of farm, in its entirety, uses 3 000 ha of flour can be obtained: 450, 480 and land, cultivated with wheat, sunflower, 550 for pastry, 650 for semi-white, barley, soybean, canola and corn integral and dark flour. crops. 30-45% of the area owned has wheat cultures producing annually The mill is equipped with its own 4 000-5 000 t. The agricultural farm transport vehicles and 60% of the raw reached a production capacity almost material comes from the mill’s own four times higher compared to the one sources, whereas the rest is collected obtained before making the investment from suppliers from the close localities. by means of the European funds.
28 29 CHAPTER 4. NON-AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES Investments in concrete, profit from concrete the possibility of delivering the producers in the area and the quality products to the clients with a high of the product is superior to the quality capacity for executing pavement works of the products of the other producers. Project title: Building production section for concrete products, administrative and to the clients with lower demands, headquarters, pedestrian alleys and driveways, parking areas, fencing, utilities drawn by the price/quality relation. The beneficiary considers that it is and branching very important for this financing to Project financed through Axis 3 of the The National Program for Rural By means of this project, nine jobs satisfy the needs of the community, Development, Measure 312 - “Support for creating and developing microenterprises” were created and the economy of the contributing thus to revitalizing rural Beneficiary: SC ELIZA ȘI DANI PAVAJE SRL locality was developed, while the economy and raising the possibility for Project location: Bucov commune, Bucov village, No. 593, Prahova County project brought a considerable the population in villages to engage in Development region: South-Muntenia financial input to the local budget. other activities than in the agricultural Implementation period: July 2010 - January 2013 ones. Total budget (with VAT): 1 231 353 lei At the same time, by placing the Grant: 849 360 lei investment in a location with a high At the same time, in order for the Co-financing (beneficiary’s contribution): 381 993 lei development potential in the vicinity of company to be competitive, the Subjects: SMEs with non-agricultural activities, developing and diversifying Ploiești town and Boldești-Scăieni modern technology needs permanent non-agricultural services in the rural environment town (11 km North from Ploiești), the investments, so that the products retail of the products was granted achieved may have a high quality and The company was founded on the with the height of 30 cm, performing especially due to the fact that the sale so that they meet the always changing 17th of March 2009, having as main exterior sanitary installations (water, price is lower than the price of the demands of the consumers. activity manufacturing concrete sewerage, electric devices and natural products aimed for construction. gases) and installing equipment for the production line. The sole associate and the administrator of the company, Daniela The financing contract was signed Dinu, wanted to invest in acquiring in July 2010, whereas the project high technology machines for was implemented for a period of manufacturing concrete pavements 30 months. and for performing the construction works needed to develop the activity With the support of the funds for which the microenterprise was obtained a metallic hall was built being founded, according to the conditions needed for performing the production imposed by the technical sheet of activity, including an area destined to Measurement 312. In order to access be the administrative headquarters of this measure and to start the project the beneficiary. wanted, the applicant purchased the land needed for making the By this project, a high performance investment. line was purchased, with the help of which an efficient production can be The objectives of the project were to achieved for a competitive price build a metallic hall and a concrete compared to the market in the field. platform for pedestrian access, driveways, parking areas, fencing the The machinery purchased have a land with a bordered net installed on productivity of 500 m² of pavement/ metallic polls and a concrete border day and 8 500 borders / day, ensuring
30 31 Rest and comfort in the piedmont of Argeș River
Project title: Touristic guest house and restaurant in Albota commune, Argeș County Project financed through Axis 3 of The National Program for Rural Development, Measure 313 – “Encouraging tourism related activities” Beneficiary: SC CRISERV TOP LUX SRL Project location: Albota commune, Argeș County Development region: South-Muntenia Implementation period: November 2011 - August 2013 Total budget: 394 985 Euro Grant: 197 493 Euro Co-financing (beneficiary’s contribution): 197 492 Euro Subjects: Improving the quality of life in the rural areas and diversifying rural economy, developing tourism related services and valuing touristic potential
As a component of the national account the accommodation, the tourism, rural tourism is a high meal, the recreation places and the development potential sector, places for spending spare time. representing the alternative for the occupation of work force, a method In order to arrange the guest house for diversifying economic activities on the inside, popular art products and a way to stabilize the population which were created by traditional in the rural areas. craftsmen were purchased, maintaining the authentic character Starting from this prerequisite, and the specifics of the area. the beneficiary who is a newly founded company wanted to make The general objective targeted an investment in this regard, by corresponds to the objective of building a touristic guest house Measure 313, respectively to the meeting the European requirements. development of tourism related activities in rural areas, aimed to The main activities targeted by contribute to raising the number of the project were to build, rearrange, jobs and the alternative incomes, as equip and introduce a guest house in well as to increase the rural area. the rural tourism circuit. The performance of the Also, the company aimed to investment reached the specific perform recreational activities by objectives mentioned in the project: arranging a traditional restaurant • Creating and maintaining for event organizing. jobs through tourism related activities. In order to contribute While designing new structures, to the increase of work a special attention was granted to productivity and implicitly quality, as well as to finishings and to growing the alternative equipments and the services made incomes, eight jobs were created available for tourists, taking into especially for young persons and
32 33 women; as on the price-quality relation • Raising the added value of the offered. tourism related activities. The establishment of the guest house The guest house has 12 meets this objective, by the accommodation units, cumulating grown use capacity of the unit thus 24 accommodation places, a and by the increased quality of dining hall with a capacity of 24 the services offered; seats, exclusively for the tourists • Creating, improving and hosted and a restaurant with a diversifying the infrastructure capacity of 180 seats. and tourism related services by opening a restaurant-guest Aside from the indoors comfort house offering various high offered, the pension also has the quality tourism related services; advantage of the location it is built • Increasing the number of in, respectively in the area of Argeș tourists and the duration of their River piedmont, where tourists visits; by the high quality of the can make road trips in natural services offered, the company and cultural places of the area. In aims to increase customers’ order to facilitate these recreational loyalty. Also, in order to extend activities, the beneficiary makes the duration of the tourists’ available all the informative stay, the beneficiary relies on materials in regard to the places the spare time activities, as well which can be visited.
34 35 36 37 PROJECTS FROM EUROPE
LEGEND:
The states from which the examples of good practices have been selected are presented in the following pages
38 39 POLAND AND SCOTLAND The Polish and the Scottish invite customers to taste their food producers, they noticed different products becoming the future Project title: Taste of rural Europe marketing strategies and they had the learning source by cooperation, Project financed through Axis LEADER, Measure 421 – “Implementing cooperation possibility to promote their products ensuring thus the capitalization of the programs” in festivals organized for this purpose. project’s results. Beneficiary: The partnership between Dunajec-Biała (Zakliczyn, Poland, partnership leader), Argyll and the Islands (Oban, Scotland), Ayrshire (Prestwick, Scotland), Wadoviana (Wadowice, Poland), by Rzecz Rozwoju Społeczności Lokalnej “Mroga” Aside from the advantages gained The staff changes during the (Koluszki, Poland) from the experience shift, the benefits implementation created a language Project location: Zakliczyn, Koluszki towns (Poland), Oban and Prestwick (Scotland) brought by the TCP include the related problem, generating Development region: Małopolska and Łódź (Poland), Argyll, Ayrshire and Arran creation of new relevant connections misunderstandings among partners, (Scotland) and a feeling of belonging and which could have been avoided by Implementation period: April 2011 - November 2014 solidarity among the participants, in including and paying translators. Total budget (with TVA): 221 705 Euro the co-attending regions and on an Some of the partners state that they Grant: 122 141 Euro international level. “The project would have preferred the development Co-financing (beneficiary’s contribution): 99 564 Euro helped us to develop a local culture of of a new, less ambitious network, by Subjects: Rural patrimony, rural tourism, cultural patrimony the food in our regions and to engage simplifying key objectives. in promoting it”, stated the Scottish Additionally, the administrative Within this Transnational quality products of the local food Fergus Younger. obstacles created by the rules applied Cooperation Project (TCP) LEADER, producers. to the regions attending the project, the rural areas in Poland and The partner in Poland targets to according to the TCP, were somewhat Scotland got associated in order to The partners of the LEADER TCP develop a virtual platform of food underestimated. promote local producers and high project wished to attract connoisseur quality food destinations. buyers and tourists to those areas.
On the occasion of the European By extending and associating Fair for Rural Cooperation organized already existing initiatives, as by the Scottish Rural Network and the Ayrshire Food Network, Argyll Food European Network for Rural Forum and Taste of Arran, the final Development in September 2010, the objective of the partners was to allow current partners discussed potential farmers and local producers to bring ways to widen the social-economic an added value to their production, in profile of each region, which is order to ensure sustainability for the materialized in a higher income for business they manage and own. local food producers. The financing contract was signed Convinced that the TCP will be in April 2011 and the project was able to support local producers in implemented during a period of creating competitive products approximately three years and a half. addressed to a larger audience, they signed an agreement for developing a The activities focused on project which would gather a wide developing a regional strong brand of range of experiences related to local food products, telling the history of products. food culture, specialized movie production and representing the The main objective of the project brand at food festivals. By visiting the was to bring to the knowledge of the areas included in the project, they wide public the work and the high knew a great diversity of local 40 41 MALTA The certified Maltese environmentalism
Project title: Converting from traditional to organic farming in Malta Project financed through Measure 132 – “Introducing food quality systems” Beneficiary: Mary Mallia Project location: Mġarr, Malta Development region: Malta Implementation period: November 2011 - November 2012 Total budget: 2 171 Euro Grant: 2 171 Euro Co-financing (beneficiary’s contribution): 0 Euro Subjects: Growing the competitiveness in the forestry and agriculture sector, growing the quality of agricultural products
The beneficiary of the project is a ecological agriculture, aiming to obtain tradition female farmer who deals with high quality products by methods cultivating and trading vegetables in involving environment protection. Malta. The main activity of the project This is where the project idea came consisted of cultivating vegetable from and the financing possibility organically. allowed her to put it into practice, transforming her traditional vegetal In order to obtain organic vegetables, farm into a farm with bio-products. the soil is not chemically treated and no pesticides or fungicides are used, The general objective of the project so that the vegetables cultivated grow is to turn traditional agriculture into an naturally.
42 43 In this context, the beneficiary After attending the training classes and the workers in the agricultural and after the farm went through certain exploitation attended a specialization technological transformation processes, class, organized by the Ecological the beneficiary received the certificate Agriculture Movement in Malta. attesting the organic agricultural activity.
The organic production methods require environment protection. The benefic interests and plants are left to be developed on their own in order to help cultures, by aerating the soil and by fighting pests. Therefore, the soil is much healthier and the yield of the production is much higher. Additionally, a healthy soil retains moisture for a longer period, whereas this fact helps cultures during drought periods.
A production in ecological system means relatively higher costs, which is why many of the farmers don’t transform their cultures into ecological productions, even though this system helps the growth of the agricultural competitiveness and the value added.
The implementation of the project allowed the beneficiary to sell the products for a slightly higher price compared to the market level.
This fact made possible to access European funds, which contributed to the compensation of part of the certification expenses and the organic culture lowered the costs for weeding and for pest control.
The performance of this project encourages organically production and at the same time it highlights the multiple possibilities offered by the rural development funds.
44 45 ITALY Supply chain for high quality potatoes mission and grow the added value bought due to minor problems (for Project title: A new recipy for a high value potato supply-chain for producers, the creation of a example due to the reduced Project financed through Measure 123 – “Raising the added value of the agricultural modern installation was needed for dimension of the products). The and forestry products” the primary processing of potatoes. factory gathered local producers Beneficiary: The Consorzio Pataticoltori del Viterbese (CO.PA.VIT.) under one single organization, Project location: Acquapendente, Provincia Viterbo, Italy Development region: Lazio The commissioning of the preventing thus the possible Implementation period: March 2009 - April 2011 processing installation for potatoes competition between them. Total budget: 761 604 Euro and purchasing modern equipments Grant: 304 642 Euro was motivated by the need to The project also encouraged the Co-financing (beneficiary’s contribution): 456 962 Euro consolidate the distribution chain of development of other initiatives Subjects: Growing the competitiveness of the agricultural sector, restructuring, the cooperative, which would allow regarding the sustainable developing physical potential and promoting innovation the production and the sale of a new management of potato production. range of products: five distinct types The factory was the reference point In the middle of Italy, a 2008, includes potato producers in of peeled potatoes. for starting the process for obtaining consortium formed of cooperatives the development area of Lazio. the PGI (Protected Geographical and producers inspired by a local The purpose of the new factory Indication) certification for the Alto natural reservation purchased the Its establishment was promoted was also to increase the Viterbese potatoes. equipments needed to form the by the Natural Reservation “Monte collaboration level between grounds for a high quality supply Rufeno” after consulting local hundreds of potato producers in The cooperation between the chain for potatoes which are ready to “actors” in regard to the sustainable Lazio region: while talking about a “actors” in the supply chain is not process, obtaining very good results. development of the area. production exceeding 50 000 t, always successful, but this project more than 600 local producers proves that it is possible to reunite a Consorzio Pataticoltori del The consortium realized that in became a part of the business. large number of farmers and Viterbese (CO.PA.VIT.), founded in order to accomplish its original producers in one organization The financing by Measure 123 was aiming to reach one mutual used mainly for purchasing modern objective: developing the land by equipment for preparing potatoes. focusing on one product and an These included a cleaning section improved production process, with pressured air, a peeling unit, a gathering at the same time other main transporter roller with the interested parties. help of which workers separate potatoes which are not according to the quality standards, a cutter for selecting the five different dimensions of potatoes, an optical precision selector, a machine for distributing ozone preventing the peeled potatoes from blackening and a packing machine for packing potatoes in bags of up to 5 kg.
Selling “ready to use” potatoes allowed the growth of the added value for a part of the production that consumers would not have
46 47 GREECE Greek pottery shakes hands with nanotechnology
Project title: Using nanotechnology in the production of pottery Project financed through Axis 3 of The National Program for Rural Development, Measure 312 – “Support for creating and developing microenterprises” Beneficiary: Houlakis Konstantinos (Minoan Pottery) Project location: Thrapsano village, Minoa Pediada city, Heraklion region, Greece Development region: Crete Implementation period: July 2011 - June 2013 Total budget: 116 361 Euro Grant: 46 545 Euro Co-financing (beneficiary’s contribution): 69 816 Euro Subjects: Diversifying non-agricultural services, increasing the quality of life in the rural area
“The soil and the water give us the ceramic dishes specific to Minoan the means, the Cretan tradition, the civilization. passion and love for arts, they show us Here, art and tradition turn the way and they give the shape of the handmade ceramics dishes into dishes, while the fire keeps them lasting timeless masterpieces which reflect the over time” – From the Minoan history of culture and the richness of pottery the Minoan civilization. Thrapsano is identified with the large dishes, the so This project is a categorical called “pitharia”, which are especially innovative one and it targets the destined for storage purposes. extension of a pottery workshop by using nanotechnology*. This project Starting from the traditional was implemented in Thrapsano village, techniques for making ceramic dishes, in Pediada province, approximately 30 Konstantinos Houlakis decided the km away from Heraklion. Thrapsano implementation of a project which could area is mentioned in the official keep these techniques by introducing documents of the 16th century as modern techniques: “They are the being “the potters’ village”, and this same movements of the hands, and the denomination lies at the grounds of baking is made in the oven, by using
*Modern technique allowing the manufacturing of molecular size devices capable to act over the matter atom by atom. The term was introduced in 1959 by the American physician Richard Phillips Feynman (1918-1988); nano- according to the Greek word nanos-, “dwarf”. 48 49 a unique method, offering our dishes since the establishment, the beneficiary help of which the immersion of the within the pottery workshop, economic new basic features: a special aspect entered in a ceramist organization in ceramic dishes into a submersible benefits were recorded, as well as and resistance in time, regardless of Heraklion which was also founded by platform. Nanotechnology is used for improvements in the production the weather conditions – states the Leader+. Considering that the quality waterproofing ceramic areas, resulting process and consequently the initiator of the project. The modern of the products performed within into high quality watertight dishes. reputation of the dishes grew. instruments increase the production the workshop and the high demand The procedure works as follows: after line rhythm without affecting the on the market in the year of 2011, baking, the ceramic vessel is placed The innovative procedure quality of our dishes”. the Beneficiary decided to extend his on a platform and it is sunken for used, respectively incorporating business by using an innovative system approximately eight hours into a mix of nanotechnology, grows exponentially The pottery workshop was in the production process, respectively water and waterproof substances, and the production capacity of the founded in 2006 through a Project by using nanotechnology. then it is left to dry for 24 hours. workshop, simplifying technological financed through Leader+. In order processes and reducing the processing to commission a mutual approach in The investment consists of After implementing the project, time for ceramic dishes, contributing promoting local ceramic products, purchasing new equipments with the respectively by extending the business thus to raising the productivity.
50 51 52 Open to the Future
The Roots of Europe
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This material was drafted by the Romanian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, within the project “Setting up and supporting the National Rural Development Network”. Project co-financed through EAFRD, Measure 511 from NRDP 2007 - 2013. 2014 The content of this material does not necessarily reflect the official position of European Union. Free copy.