The objective of the sub-component is to support the provision of high-quality training and advisory services for agricultural producers and agribusinesses in two formats: First, it will support targeted trainings on specific topics relevant for beneficiaries of the Collection and Conditioning Centers (CCCs) and the Agri-food Platform (AFP) both of which are to be established through the support under sub-component 1.2 in the project areas i.e., one CCC each in Resen, and Strumica and an AFP in Skopje. Training topics are envisioned to include but not limited to: improvement of crop varieties specifically for exports; Global Good Agricultural Practices (GAP); organic agriculture, and climate smart techniques. These trainings will be extended also to the NEA advisors, to improve their capacity i.e., enhance their knowledge and skill. Second, it will provide financial support to producers and agribusinesses throughout North Macedonia in the form of matching grants for on-demand advisory services to be provided by qualified advisors. Given the existing advisory services by NEA or local government agricultural service staff that primarily support producers’ applications for IPARD funds, the project-supported advisory services are expected to improve the knowledge and skill of farmers and agribusinesses in production and post-harvest practices, business management skills[1], marketing, etc. This will be done through the establishment of an Advisory One-stop Shop that is expected to strengthen the attractiveness of the CCCs to be established under sub-component 1.2. A pool of regional experts will be set up to support the on-demand advisory service provision to producers and agribusinesses in North Macedonia. To this end, announcements will be made seeking expressions of interest from experts who can provide high-quality assistance and advisory services to agricultural households and businesses.
Specifically, sub-component 1.1 will provide financing for technical assistance (TA) and consultants’ services to: (a) carry out a skills needs and training analysis (training needs assessment (TNA)) of agricultural producers and processors in the project areas; (b) develop a database of vetted local consultants (trainers and advisory service providers) with extensive knowledge and expertise of providing training and advisory services in various fields, including agricultural production/processing, distribution, business planning and management, product innovation, marketing and sales and others; (c) develop a manual of the principles and application procedures for project technical advisory services, including eligibility criteria, contribution ceilings etc.; (d) develop and carry out a public awareness and information dissemination program about the project’s training and advisory support program; and (e) the provision of approved eligible technical advisory services to farmers. The information dissemination activities and the management of application process for technical advisory assistance will be managed under the responsibility of the MAFWE and the NEA branch offices.
The project will finance a minimum 50 percent of the cost of the technical advisory services per eligible approved recipient farmer, based on comparable cost-sharing activities in other projects in the region. Criteria to be considered in the application would also include support to “public goods” elements, such as agri-environmental practices to reduce GHG emissions, adoption of water/energy efficient technologies, and climate-smart technologies[2], or for specific support to women, young and small farmers. The sub-component – through technical advisory services – would also promote the adoption of digital technologies in this sub-component, including online platforms, videos, and other e-extension tools, to attract North Macedonia’s young agricultural labor force (40 percent of the agricultural land holders were under 45 years old in 2013).