PHARE projects

PHARE project: Creation of a system for improving the qualifications of agricultural mechanizers in line with labor market requirements

Project duration: 09.2005 – 11.2006
In 54 training events across Latvia, more than 850 farmers were trained in the use of the latest agricultural machinery.
Combine harvesters_brochure.pdf
Ploughs_brochure.pdf
Sawmill_brochure.pdf
Sprayers_brochure.pdf
The project was financed under the Phare 2003 National Programme “Economic and Social Cohesion Measures in Latvia”. The total eligible costs of the project were EUR 103,362.42, of which grant funding was EUR 751,330.
Project cooperation partner – the association “Agricultural Machinery Dealers Association”.
The goal of the project is to promote employment of rural residents of Latvia and increase competitiveness in the labor market by providing opportunities for improving qualifications in the agricultural mechanization sector and supporting the development of more successful cooperation between the employee (mechanizer) and the employer (manager of an agricultural enterprise).
The sub-goal of the project is to create a system of training, upgrading and retraining of agricultural mechanizers in order to prepare residents to work with modern agricultural machinery, the purchase of which was made using EU structural support mechanisms. In parallel, two important issues were addressed: job opportunities for rural residents who lack permanent employment, as well as at the same time preparing the missing, vitally needed qualified employees for farms to work with new and modern technologies.
The direct target group of the project was rural mechanizers, unemployed, small farmers and temporary workers. To achieve the project's goal, a qualification improvement system was created, including theoretical and practical training on farms, as well as demonstrations during rural days.
Manuals on the use of sprayers, seeders, ploughs and combines were prepared and distributed to farmers – they were in great demand among farmers. Each manual was published in 1500 copies.
The project was co-financed by the European Union and Latvian state subsidies for agricultural development in 2006.
Project financiers: European Community grant 62,017.45 EUR, Latvian side financing 41,344.07 EUR. Total project costs 103,362.42 EUR
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Phare project “Participation in the European Farmers' Congress”

As part of the project, the Farmers' Council represented Latvia at the EU Farmers' Congress, participating in discussions about the EU Common Agricultural Policy.
Total grant amount: EUR 2083.

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PHARE project: EU environmental requirements – new obligations and challenges for Latvian farmers

Project duration: 12.2003 – 12.2004
The project promoted the practical implementation of EU and Latvian environmental legislation and provided farmers with the necessary information about restrictions on economic activities on Latvian farms.
In order to promote the practical implementation of EU and Latvian environmental legislation in Latvian farms and provide farmers with the necessary information about restrictions on economic activities, the Farmers' Council, together with the Latvian Waste Management Association, surveyed farms within the framework of the PHARE project "EU Environmental Requirements - New Obligations and Challenges for Latvian Farmers" to identify the most characteristic sectoral problems in the field of environment.
As part of the project, information materials were prepared for farms specializing in crop and livestock farming, paying special attention to the implementation of the conditions of the Nitrates Directive EEC/91/676, the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive 96/61/EC, and the Action Programme for Environmentally Sensitive Areas.
The crop production section discusses fertilization requirements that must be met in environmentally sensitive areas, as well as information on the most important issues of plant protection, nature conservation, buffer zones, and waste management. The material also includes information on land reclamation systems.
The livestock section contains information on manure, its storage, spreading and permissible norms. This material also includes issues on pollution, as well as by-product and waste management, and welfare requirements.
In order to inform farmers, in addition to creating information materials, seminars were also held on environmental requirements in crop and livestock farms.
Interested parties can obtain the aforementioned booklets at the ZSA office.
The project was co-financed by the European Union's PHARE small projects program in Latvia and state subsidies for agricultural development in 2004.
Total project amount: EUR 24,894.
Project funders: European Commission budget 18,275 EUR
Co-financing from the Ministry of Agriculture 4844 EUR
Self-financing of the Farmers' Assembly 589 EUR
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