Summary

One of the main landmarks of the small community Prajesti, Romania, is a complex consisting of a botanical garden and a museum. Due to lack of funding, both the botanical garden and the museum had not been maintained since 1990 and suffered from continuous degradation.

Following an earlier restoration of the museum through national and regional financing, EAFRD support helped to refurbish the botanical garden and adapt it for training activities for local young farmers. Specifically, EAFRD support was used to restore the infrastructure and vegetation of the garden and link it with other similar establishments at national and international levels.

Additionally, the funding allowed to set up an educational programme for young farmers focused on environmental issues such as applied environmental protection, ecological storage of livestock waste, water consumption economy, drip irrigation in fields and greenhouses.

Results

The number of visitors to the complex increased by 25% throughout the first year following the finalisation of the restoration activities.

Bilateral agreements for exchanges with schools from 15 localities (towns and communes) in Bacau County were signed.

15 young farmers participated in the training programme and improved their knowledge and skills on a series of environmental issues.

The project helped build trust in the potential benefits of RDP funding in view of the 2014-2020 programming period.

New opportunities to promote local assets and boost the local economy arose.