FUNDING MODELS FOR FARM ADVISORY SERVICES – THE EUROPEAN UNION EXPERIENCE

Abstract

The concept of modern-day and intensive agricultural
production has imposed the improvement of competitiveness of
agricultural households as one of the most significant issues. The level
of knowledge and awareness of farmers is crucial for the growth of
their competitiveness. This is the reason why the role and importance
of farm advisory service, as a link connecting research and
institutional sectors with farmers, has been underlined in the
European agriculture system. The importance of advisory activities in
contemporary circumstances has determined the research subject of
this paper. The farm advisory service of the European Union has been analyzed using the historic, descriptive methods, as well as analysis
and synthesis methods. The object of the research is to determine how
privatization and commercialization influence the quality of advisory
services by analyzing farm advisory services and their funding
methods. Based on observed advantages and constraints of certain
funding models, the paper has given guidelines for organization of the
farm advisory service in the Republic of Serbia.