PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS AND HIGHSCHOOLS, SUPPORTED BY THE GOVERNMENT

In an era of technology and innovation, within a society undergoing continuous change, jobs adapted to the new requirements of the market, but the people practising them are resistant to change. Romania lacks specialists within agrifood, industry and services, technically speaking. The business sector underlines the fact that graduates of technical and professional schools lack professional practice. Thus, graduates cannot perform at the workplace nor become competitive.
 
The alarm pulled by the investors it’s not of propaganda, but the grim reality. The old professional and technical schools are ignored or disregarded by students and parents, but of interest for investors.
The interests shown by companies for graduates of professional and technical schools determined the Government to take initiative and introduce within the National Package for combating poverty a measure dedicated to the revival of professional and technical education, thus responding to an economical and social need. The measure can be implemented through common actions of the teaching units and of companies, actions translated within public-privat partnerships for practice internships, paid from nonrefundable European funds.
 
Thus, the Ministry of European Funds launched on 13th of October, the call for submission of projects in total amount of  47.8 million Euro, corresponding to the Operational Programme – Human Capital 2014-2020 (POCU) – Practice internships for pupils and students within the agri-food, industry and services sector, Priority axis 6 – Education and  skills.
 
Proposals of projects aiming internships at the workplace, within agri-food sector, the financial allocation is of approximately 24.3 million Euro of the total allocation for this call of projects. Internhships at the workplace at the potential employers within the agricultural sector (agronomy, livestock, horticulture, pisciculture, veterinary and food industry, forestry, agri-tourism).
 
A selected project can receive between 75.000 and 500.000 Euro, with a period of implementation of 9 and maximum 24 months. The requests for financing will be mandatory submitted in partnership and must aim target-groups from the following development regions of Romania: North-East, South-East, South-Muntenia, South-West Oltenia, West, North-West, Center.
The professional and technical teaching was disestablished in 2009 and re-established in 2012, at the requests of empployers. The duration of learning is of 3 years, except special schools of crafts where the duration is of 2 years. This type of education is an alternative for young graduates of 8th grade.
 
NRDN MEETING WITH THE ESTONIAN NATIONAL RURAL NETWORK

On the 11th of October, the “Dimitrie Gusti” Village Museum hosted the visit of a group of young farmers and of the Estonian National Rural Network team. The event was attended also by representatives of the Romanian National Rural Network.
The meeting comprised various aspects, from reasons of young farmers to live and work in the rural area, to NRDP measures and exchange of experience between the two networks. The visit of the Estonian delegation had as basis the competition organized by NRN Estonia regarding the reasons behind the projects and business plans, thus the decissions for living and working in the rural area.

The Estonian NRN approach highlights the social part of agriculture, respectively the power of example, bringing to the spot-light the people and their stories, reasons.
We present the experiences of the Estonian young farmers, regarding living and work within the farms - subjects within a brochure published by NRN Estonia here: https://goo.gl/cjsXuG :
 
Viljar, organic milk production and processing (dairy) farm
Since secondary school I was encouraged by my family to start a business in the rural area. I enjoy living in the countryside, because I can make a living out of it. We are not competing with big farms, we are just working and doing the best we can.
 
Artur, organic milk production and processing (dairy) farm 
Since childhood we’ve been used with living in the countryside. Our parents also lived here. I believe that we have a future here.
 
Mirjam, milk processing (dairy), sheep breeding, poultry farm
I grew up at the farm and it was my choice to stay. I feel I made the right decision and I enjoy this living. I worked also abroad, in Denmark, but came back home. We are a big family and live in the same village. We like what we do and we do it together.
 
Artur, organic grain growing (20 hectares), processing (mill)  farm
We have a grain farm, of over 20 ha and grow buckwheat. We wanted to produce  our own energy, and installed solar panels. We are selling our products through e-shop, on internet.
The work we do it first of all for us, for our families and afterwards we think of selling it.


VERSION 4.0 OF NRDP 2014-2020
The 4th improved version of the National Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020, has been published on the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s site.

EXTENDING THE CALL OF PROJECTS FOR PRODUCERS GROUPS
The submission period for projects under submeasures 9.1-„Setting up of producer groups and organisations in agriculture” and 9.1a-„Setting up of producer groups and organisations in fruitgrowing sector” within NRDP 2014 – 2020 has been extended until 30 December 2016, 16:00 hours.
 
The budgetary allocation for session 2016 is of 7.1 million Euro: 4.9 million Euro for the agriculural sector and 2.2 million Euro for the fruit-growing sector.
The maximum value of the support granted is of maximum 100.000 Euro/year, for a period of maximum 5 years since the setting-up of the producers group.
 
The submeasures aim to encourage and support the setting-up of the producers groups within the agricultural and fruit-growing sector, according to the provisions of national legislation into force. Also, the aim is to improve competitivity of primary producers by integrating them in the food chain and increasing the added value of the products.
 
EXTENDED CALL OF PROJECTS FOR SUBMEASURES 4.1 a, 4.2 and 4.2 a
The submission period for projects under submeasures 4.1a – “Investments in fruit-growing holdings”, 4.2 – “Support for investments in processing/marketing and/or development of agricultural products” and 4.2a – “Support for investments in processing/marketing and/or development of fruit-growing products”.
The dead-line for sM 4.1a has been extended until 30 November 2016, 16:00 hours, while for sM 4.2 and 4.2a has been extended until 15 December 2016, 16:00 hrs.

EIP-AGRI SECTION ON RNDR.RO WEBSITE
On NRN Romania website – www.rndr.ro, within the EIP-AGRI section, you can now find info regarding the European Innovation Partnership, from EIP-AGRI publications (brochures) to EIP newsletters in Romanian language and events: http://www.rndr.ro/pei-agri.html  

SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has published a wide range of tools and best practices on Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) in the dedicated toolbox.
Link here: http://bit.ly/2dRU6gU
 
CALL No. 2/2016 REGARDING THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING OF FARMERS
The 2^nd call for vocational training of farmers, especially beneficiaries of submeausres 6.1 and 6.3, submeasure 1.1 takes place during 10 October 2016 – 10 January 2017.
 
 
GUIDE OF IMPLEMENTATION AND MANUAL OF PROCEDURES FOR IMPLEMENTING SUBMEASURE 19.4 – AVAILABLE ONLINE
The Guide of Implementation and the Manual of Procedures for implementing submeasure 19.4 „Support for running costs and animation” of NRDP 2014-2020, have been approved by Order of minister of 13 October 2016. Documents can be accessed on afir.info  website Investiții PNDR (NRDP Investments) – LEADER - sM19.4.