1. TAIEX Workshop on Agricultural Advisory Services in the EU Kiev, Ukraine 25-26 February 2016 Organisational structure and practice activities of agricultural advisory services in EU Member States Emanuela Dimitrova National Agricultural Advisory Service (NAAS), Bulgaria

2. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY SERVICE (NAAS) The National Agricultural Advisory Service (NAAS) is a legal entity budget funded with headquarters in Sofia (NAAS is subordinated to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food) and territorial units in the country. NAAS was established in 1999 based on the Law on Agricultural Academy and it started real activities in October 2000.

3. NAAS STRUCTURE Headquarters in Sofia; 27 Regional Offices; Center for vocational training /CVT/. Analytical laboratory

5. NAAS /REGIONAL OFFICES STRUCTURE/

6. REGIONAL OFFICES STRUCTURE Head of section (expert coordinator) - agronomist, livestock-engineer or agrarian economist Experts: - agronomist; - livestock-engineer; - agrarian economist;

7. NAAS MAIN ACTIVITIES Provides specialized consultations in the office and farm visits (on-the-spot) in the area of agriculture, including plant production, animal breeding and agrarian economics; Provides consultations in relation with Rural Development Programme (RDP) in the office and farm visits (on-the-spot); Conducting surveys on desired types of consultations provided to farmers; Conducting joint activities and events with scientific institutions and other applied research organizations - transfer and putting into practice of scientific achievements and working knowledge in the field of agriculture Conducting meetings of the informal councils to the offices; Organization and participation in information activities; Creating information materials; Participation in media events; Supporting approved semi-subsistence farms during the project implementation and for development of the farm by provision of the new advisory services under measure 143 of RDP 2007-2013; Supporting approved young farmers during project implementation.

8. NAAS MAIN ACTIVITIES Training of farmers by Center for vocational training /CVT/, including under measures of RDP 2007-2013; Establishing of farmer cycles; Conducting of consultancy days in villages and small towns; Makes chemical analyzes of soils and plants by the Analytical Laboratory within NAAS;

9. NAAS MAIN ACTIVITIES Under measure 143 under RDP 2007-2013: Developed business plans and application forms for farmers for different RDP measures (until 31.12.2013) and also: - advice on addressing environmental protection problems (water pollution, soil erosion, bio-diversity, climate change); - advice on relevant statutory management requirements and Bulgarian Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC) – cross compliance; - provided advisory services for farm management and for plant production and livestock production to approved under M 141 semi-subsistance farmers (until 31.08.2015); The number of projects /business plans/ made by experts of NAAS is almost 17 000

10. NAAS MAIN ACTIVITIES Provides consultations under Measure 2 “Advisory services, farm management and farm relief services” – RDP 2014-2020 including: Providing special advisory package for young farmers under Operation 2.1.1. Advisory services for farmers and forest holders including development of business plan and application for submeasure 6.1. for support of young farmers Results: for period 26.06.-24.07.2015 NAAS prepared 1327 projects of young farmers; Measure 16 “Cooperation” - Participation in operational groups under European Innovation Partnership (EIP) for agricultural productivity and sustainability

11. NAAS MAIN ACTIVITIES Different activities under RDP 2014-2020 Thematic sub - program for development of small farms: Submeasure 2.1, operation 2.1.2. Providing advisory services to small farms - 6 package of advisory services including development of projects under RDP 2014-2020 (Measure 4. “Investments in physical assets”, 6.3 “Setting up activities for development of small farms” and 6.4. “Investments for non-agricultural activities” Sub-measure 2.2 Setting up advisory services - creating a mobile community centers at NAAS (by 50); Provides consultations in relation with the new Rural Development Program 2014-2020 (RDP) incl. Thematic sub - program for the development of small farms;

12. IDENTIFICATION OF NEEDS Conducting surveys on desired types of consultations provided to farmers; Interaction with branch associations; Interaction with local authorities and regional offices of Ministry of Agriculture; Farmers’ consultative councils;

13. EXAMPLE NAAS: NON OFFICIAL FARMERS’ CONSULTATIVE COUNCILS TO EVERY OFFICE Members Active farmers from the district; Farmers who use NAAS advisory services of many years; Regional farmers’ associations representatives; Regional research institutes and organizations representatives; Tasks Discussion of farmers’ advisory service needs; Discussion of farmers’ problems; Discussion of common activities;

14. COMPLETE SERVICES TO FARMERS Information system; Internet page (“Question-answers”); Call Center for Farmer’s Specialized Information; Transfer of knowledge and innovation (Interaction with agrarian universities and research institutes); Visits on farms; Open days in municipalities offices

15. NAAS example: Call Center for Farmer’s Specialized Information - free of charge calls AGRO*2476 07001 2476

16. NAAS example: TRANSFER OF KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION (INTERACTION WITH AGRARIAN UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES) Contracts for cooperation; Common seminars; Demonstration of new technologies and products; Issues of common information materials;

17. Monitoring and Evaluation system Information data-base system; List of indicators; Surveys; Monthly, six month and annual reports from offices; List for the check of office activities;

18. NAAS example: INFORMATION SYSTEM Web-based system with data about every farmer who was received advice Data includes: Farmer name; Address; Education; Farm specialization; Farm location (less-favoured area, NATURA 2000, Nitrate vulnerable zones, etc); Cultivated land; Type of cultivated crops; Breeding animals; Data about application under different supporting schemes; Equipment and building; Received consultations including their type; Visits on the farm;

19. Thank you for your attention! Emanuela Dimitrova Senior expert in General Directorate “Agricultural advices and Analytical Laboratory” National Agricultural Advisory Service (NAAS), 7 “Shosse Bankja” street; 1331 Sofia, Bulgaria