Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

PAYING AND INTERVENTION AGENCY FOR AGRICULTURE

ECEI – Partnership for a Digital Europe5-6 November 2012, Bruxelles

PAYING AND INTERVENTION AGENCY FOR AGRICULTURE (PA)

The implementation body for agricultural

support measures, financed from the EU budget,

through the European Agricultural Guarantee

Fund (EAGF), European Agricultural Fund for

Rural Development (EAFRD), and from

Romania’s state budget.

ROMANIAN AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is one of the most important branches

of Romanian economy.

Out of 23.8 mil. of ha –

the Romanian territory,

13.3 mil. ha (55.9 %)

represent agricultural

land.

PA`S OBJECTIVES

Starting from 2007 - Ministry of Agriculture and

Rural Development together with PA have a strong

policy in order to help farmers to get subsidies

from the European Union.

PA IN FIGURES

Annually, over 2,000,000 farmers apply for

European subsidies.

PA has paid over 5 billion euro and 8 billion lei

to farmers between 2007 and 2012.

COOPERATION BETWEEN PA AND IREX ROMANIA

In 2010, the PA management started to look for

solutions in order to improve the absorption of

EU funds.

In 2010, PA started the cooperation with IREX

Romania, who implements the Biblionet

Programme.

WHY THIS COOPERATION?

• It is an instrument put at the Romanian farmers’ disposal by PA through which the applicants for direct payments from EU funds can identify and digitize the parcels they use in a GIS (Geographic Information System) environment.

• Simultaneously, the farmers fill in the area declaration, in compliance with the size of the parcels measured through digitization.

IPA ONLINENecessary Requirement – Internet connection.

It is enabled from: Farms headquarters (large farms, farms with internet connection). Public libraries – Biblionet Programme Mayor’s offices. PA Local/County offices.

Advantages: The paper maps are no longer necessary. The area digitized by farmers is very accurately measured. The error risk, therefore the penalization risk, is more reduced. The applicant can access the application from anywhere in the

world, provided that he has an internet connection.The results are available at any moment. In the following claim year the farmer makes only the corrections

corresponding to the modifications occurred. The data consistency is verified by the system (total areas,

overlaps etc).

HOW WE COOPERATEFarmers who want to apply for european subsidies

and don`t have a computer and access to Internet go to public libraries.

Why?

BECAUSE PUBLIC LIBRARIES ARE CLOSER TO THE FARMERS.

STEPS: Librarians help farmers to access Internet. Librarians help farmers to introduce their username and

password. Librarians help farmers to digitize their parcels.

HOW WE COOPERATE?

Starting with 2010, PA and libraries organize training sessions every six months and librarians are trained by PA`s experts how to use IPA ONLINE application.

Librarians are well-trained and have good skills to help Romanian farmers.

RESULTS OF A STRONG COOPERATION

• In 2011 over 17,000 farmers apply for European money using a computer in a public library.

• Over 20.000 mil euro – total value of subsidies.

• Farmers have saved 2 days (libraries are closer to their homes).

• Farmers can spend 2 days more working their land!

RESULTS OF A STRONG COOPERATION

• 150.000 euro were saved by farmers.(means of transport, free days).

• A strong communication and cooperation between PA experts and librarians.

• Librarians has access to all the necessary information and they are always able to help farmers and also PA.

OUR COMMON GOALS

• Continue the cooperation.

• Help more and more farmers.

• Get subsidies from the European Union.

• Make libraries more efficient in the community.

• Improve the quality of rural life!

Raluca Daminescu

ROMANIAN

PAYING AND INTERVENTION

AGENCY FOR AGRICULTURE

raluca.daminescu@apia.org.ro

www.apia.org.ro