Good Practice - Project
Modernisation of an apple farm in Romania
CAP funds enabled the modernisation of an apple farm to improve production quality.
General information
RDP Priority
- P6. Social inclusion and local development
RDP Focus Area
- 6B: Local development
RDP Measure
- M19: LEADER/CLLD
Beneficiary type
- Farmer / land manager
Summary
Apple production has a long history in many areas of Romania, but after the collapse of the communist cooperatives system, orchards often risked being left to waste or abandoned. In later years, the apple sector began to revive and many farmers, including Anamariei G. Petru, used financial support from the Rural Development Programme (RDP) to establish new orchards. Petru, first used support from the 2007-2013 RDP to establish his farm in 2008 and later he used LEADER support from the 2014-2020 RDP to improve the performance of his fruit farm. This increased the added value of his nutritious fruit products through the purchase of modern machines and equipment.
Results
- The LEADER project resulted in the creation of two new full-time jobs.
- The farm's income has been secured two years after the project’s completion.
Promoter
PFA Anamariei G. Petru
Funding
RDP support: 49 045 (EUR)
EAFRD: 36 784 (EUR)
National/Regional: 12 261 (EUR)
Ressourcen
Documents
Good Practice Report - Modernisation of an apple farm in Romania
(PDF – 933.47 KB)
Context
Apple production has a long history in many areas of Romania, but after the collapse of the communist cooperatives system, orchards often risked being left to waste or abandoned. Efforts were made to introduce foreign apple varieties, but many of these did not withstand the specific climate and soil conditions. Nonetheless, over the years, more and more entrepreneurial farmers, mostly young people, began to develop their fruit-growing businesses. The proof of this is the large number of RDP funding applications received that seek support for such operations.
Today, the highest density of apple production is in the northern hills - in counties such Bistrita Nasaud, Maramures, Cluj and Suceava - which produce over 40% of annual national production. Among these apple producing areas is Rotopănești, a village with 352 inhabitants in the Horodniceni commune of Suceava county. It is here that Anamariei G. Petru established his farm in March 2008 with support from the 2007-2013 RDP.
Petru set out to improve the performance of his apple-growing business and increase the added value of its products. He correctly estimated that, through the strategic purchasing of some modern machinery and equipment, he could ensure the sustainable development of his farm and secure its income. To put his plan into action, he applied for LEADER support from the Valea Somuzului Local Action Group (LAG).
Objectives
The objectives of this agrifood business modernisation project were to:
- Increase the added value of fruit products through the purchase of new machinery and equipment.
- Create employment in the LAG Valea Somuzului territory.
- Stimulate the territory’s economic development.
Activities
Project activities included the purchase of:
- A tractor.
- An electric forklift.
- 400 box pallets.
- A hand pallet truck with a weighing scale.
- A herbicide spraying system without water.
Main results
- The implementation of this LEADER project resulted in the creation of two new full-time jobs.
- Thanks to this CAP investment, and two years after the completion of the project, the farm's income from apple production has been secured.
Key lessons
- Investing business time to build skills and capacity for applying to (and managing) EU funded projects can create long-term business development benefits. Advisory services can help.
- Spending time to understand a LAG’s administrative system will help project beneficiaries efficiently plan and absorb LEADER funding opportunities. Hence it is also vital to have good and continuous communication with the bodies involved in delivering CAP support such as LAGs, Paying Agencies, etc.