ALFAALFA-ORGANIC CROP MANAGEMENT

Project Summary

In this training programme participated 30 farmers from all over Greece. Participants were facing the spectrum of unemployment through the continuing decline in rural income due to the nature of their cultivation and the new common agricultural policy- CAP. In the context of restructuring and replacement of crops that take place in the country, together with the strategic objective of the new rural policy, traditional cultivations should be replaced with other species. After a thorough study of all the alternative crops that could replace traditional cultivations and in collaboration with agriculturists producers and the direction of the agricultural development of the region, it was decided AKETH to seek the opportunity for funding the mobility in the frame of LLP programme.

The mobility reinforced participants, farmers and producers, in order to:

• acquire specialized knowledge and experience in matters of management of organic crops.
• acquire the appropriate expertise regarding the integrated management of organic crops from specialized bodies
• Certify their crops and their products in accordance with international standards.
• Be informed about the situation and the institutional framework of organic agriculture in a country with tradition and good practices on organic farming of clover.
• Create a network and a channel of communication between organisations and farmers who care about the same subjectand achieve:
  • recovery and improvement of their income
  • low cost of production
  • coverage of the increasing demand of food suitable for organic farms
  • improvement of the structure and fertility of the soil due to the root system and its ability to bind nitrogen.
  • adaptation of crops to future climate changes.

The mobility period took place during March 201 in Spain and Centro Mediterráneo de Desarrollo e Innovación was the hosting organization.