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SOP - Rural development
The SOP Restructuring and Modernisation of the Food Sector and Rural Development will concentrate its intervention around the primary agricultural sector, and the agri-processing sector, and, to some extent on a broader rural setting, as an environment for agricultural activities and their diversification.
The SOP has two objectives:
- Increasing the competitiveness and sustainability of the agricultural sector
- Strengthening multifunctional rural development
Other Funds, notably ERDF and ESF, will intervene to strengthen a broader economic base of rural areas, especially SME and infrastructure as well as support the improvement of human capital, especially those who wish to leave agriculture. They will be crucial in alleviating rural unemployment problems and facilitating the creation of alternative economic activities in rural areas. Complementary measures will be provided from EAGGF-Guarantee Rural Development Programme.
The SOP measures are concentrated on two priorities:
- Priority I: Supporting of changes and adjustments in agricultural and food sector
- Priority II: Sustainable development of rural areas
In addition there is a priority for Technical Assistance.
- Priority III: Technical Assistance for the Operational Programme
The first priority addresses the needs of primary agricultural producers, the food processing sector and their immediate environment. Specific measures to assist farmers in their investment efforts are foreseen. Such investments are confined to viable farms. Special support will be given to young farmers to assist them in installation, thus facilitating structural transformation. This priority also supports the agri-food processing sector for its crucial importance to the primary sector. Grants are envisaged on investments in firms which intend to bring them to EU standards and closer to consumer demands. Only projects which demonstrate the benefits to primary producers will be supported. As a complement to investment aid, support in soft measures is provided for vocational training and farm advisory services.
The second priority seeks to support a wider rural setting, yet connected to agricultural activity. Assistance is envisaged to land improvement measures, such as reparcelling. Considerable resources have been earmarked to enhancement of agricultural water management structures. Measures for assisting rural diversification, inter alia into tourism, craft, services and adding value to farm produce are envisaged. Support to village renewal, improving public infrastructure and cultural and natural heritage of rural areas is expected to increase the attractiveness of rural areas for business development. Rural development will be also facilitated by supporting private infrastructure projects. Small scale support is envisaged to Leader+ like activities (both capacity building and pilot implementation), which support grassroot level initiatives, and enhance the institutional density, promote innovation and rural networks. A separate measure is designed to help the forestry potential damaged by a hurricane in North-East of Poland.
Technical assistance activities are planned to facilitate the management, monitoring, implementation, control and evaluation of the SOP as well as efforts related to information and publicity.
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