Background of the project:

In the changing environment of the Agricultural policy of Europe there is a constant need for quality food and healthy environment. This has resulted a growing interest in ecological agriculture. After the Hungarian accession to the European Union Hungary should consider some EU Council Directory related to Agriculture, contained in CARPE program. The Hungarian National Agro-Environmental Program was developed according to the EU directives in agriculture. This Hungarian program is under implementation now and it contains Ecological Farming program. The farmers can participate in the program they will receive financial promotion according to their application. Presently 5000 farmers are promoted, and they also will need special advise and consultation to implement the program. Every year 1100-1200 farmers applied for grant in Ecological farming target programme. People at the extension services can fulfil this task if they has the special knowledge related to Ecological Agriculture. This knowledge means not only the special knowledge of ecological agriculture but also a way of thinking in ecological way considering environment and rural development.

Everybody can get education at different agricultural schools but only a few serves the purposes of ecological education. So if a farmer would like to take part in programmes connecting to ecological agriculture or convert their land to ecologically producing version they would need this knowledge.

The situation is similar in the Western and East and Central European countries so the need for this kind of education is present there in the European Union agricultural sector. Our partners have sent their opinion and survey about it.