Croatia
Agriculture Pollution
Control project
Hrvoje Horvat, MAFRD, project coordinator
Introduction of the Project
• Founded by GEF, implemented through WB from the 2008.
• national implementing entities: Ministry of agriculture, Agency
for paying in agriculture and Croatia waters
• Estimated duration - four years, at an estimated cost of US$20
million (GEF Grant US$5.0 million, AACP associated financing
US$13.9 million and beneficiary contribution US$1.1 million)
• part of an overall program of the government of Croatia to
undertake actions for EU compliance in the agricultural sector.
Project Objectives & Outcomes
Croatia
APCP
Global objective
To reduce the discharge
of nutrients
into Danube river basin
National objectives
• increase the use of
environmentaly friendly
agriculture practices
• to comply with EU legislation
Project Objectives & Outcomes
Key indicators include:
• At least 40% of the farming population in the project areas adopting
preventive and remedial measures to reduce nutrient discharges;
• At least a 10% reduction in discharge of nutrients into surface and
groundwater in the three project regions;
• Increased national awareness of linkages between local actions and
impact on water nutrient load.
Results in Stress Reduction
• At least 40% of the farming population in the project areas
adopting preventive and remedial measures to reduce nutrient
discharge – 30% according to APCP surveys (started with “few”)
• At least 200 ha of pilot GAP demonstration sites in each of the
three counties (600 ha in total) – contracted 87 farmers with 710
hectares in total
• Percentage of cropped area in the project counties under
relevant nutrient reduction measures. – 30% according to APCP
surveys (started with <5%)
Results in Stress Reduction
• Percentage of livestock farms in three participating counties
that have animal waste storages - 19% according to APCP surveys
(started with 6%)
Results in Environmental Status
• Unified set of monitoring guidelines and standards for soil and
water adopted and implemented – completed
Process Results
• Multi-annual applied research into economic crop fertilizer
response successfully completed – 2 researches with 2
Agronomy faculties in the process of completion
Process Results
• Implementation of Code of Good Agricultural Practices – CGAP
implemented, all Croatian farmers informed through available media
and by receiving of CGAP related material on 85 000 home
addresses
• Percentage increase of rural population in project and nonproject areas aware of and initiating / implementing actions
related to nutrient reduction – 81,5% of population are aware or
initiating related nutrient actions according to APCP surveys (started
with “very low if any”)
Conclusion
In 2,5 years of the team work
• 31 on-farm investments contracted and under construction - 66 % of the
investment funds contracted so far – ongoing process
• analytical piezometer wells installed on 12 farms - more installations in progress
• contracted 87 beneficiaries with 700 ha of GAP demonstration fields
• ongoing applied researches with the Faculty of Agronomy in Zagreb and Osijek
- three different programs
• 3 sets of the field lysimeters– devices for analysis of percolating water installed
in Varaždin county
• 85 000 copies of "Good agricultural practice" brochures were distributed to
addresses of all producers
Conclusion
In 2,5 years of the team work
• designed and produced 20 types of educational and promotional material
• more than 300 seminars, workshops and media appearances conducted so far
• 2 surveys of the producers were conducted and analised, third to be applied in
2012
• cooperation with the local community on education and informing of the
farmers
• successful cooperation with local community in helping of poultry producers in
Varaždin county
• joint educational activities with the Energy institute „Hrvoje Požar
• well water analysis program started in pilot counties – more than 1400 so far
• cooperation in education with three agriculture high schools in project counties
• cooperation on education of farmers with largest Croatian food company
Agrokor - project Agro academy
Conclusion
Global and national context of the implementation
• Great economic crysis on the eve of t he project start
• Growing acomnomic problems in Croatia economy – separate problem
• Restructuring of agriculture sector in Croatia
Desappearing of smaller farms
Bigger farms encumbered with debts
Fear of investments and bigger changes
Conclusion
MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS LEARNED SO FAR
COMMUNICATION
Essential – active (daily based) exchange of information between the
project team, donors, implementing entities and stakeholders.
PLAN
Essential – translate the global project plan to specific monthly and weekly
steps and include them in reporting format
MEASUREMENT - EVALUATION - CORRECTION
Essential – constant supervision of the activities and measurement of the
results. CONCLUSIONS - CORRECTIONS
COMMUNICATION
PLAN