Description (EN): Common challenge:
The popularity of local farm products and organic/ecological food has increased enormously in last decade. Farm products´ freshness, naturalness and good taste are highly valued by consumers both in Estonia, Russia and in abroad. As the sector is quite popular, many young people/families preferring to live in countryside decide to start business in local food sector (farming and/or production). However, small farm producers are not known enough in their own region, neither in neighbouring regions across the border. Often their products are in humble packages and they lack knowledge and resources for promotion and finding direct sales channel outside their own home region. Rural SME’s engaged with horticulture and gardening have limited capacities to process and store the farm produce they grow, which prevents them to increase their incomes and to produce more high-value products. In general, it has a negative impact on the socio-economic development of the rural border regions. It is important to create and improve infrastructure for business development, as well as tools for further advancement of entrepreneurship system through multifaceted education, exchange of best practices, and cross-border cooperation.
Project ACTIVE VILLAGE contributes to the solution of the wide range of abovementioned problems in programme area.
Cross-border approach and main activities:
Since there is lack of co-operation between farmers in border areas, low know-how on how to produce horticultural products for higher added value and to establish short supply- chain, it is needed to organize joint activities and events. The main working method of the project is to bring experienced and young entrepreneurs working in the same business field together, and let them to establish personal contacts with colleagues acting in same business field. The role of project partners is to offer them a platform (series of events) suitable for exploring possibilities for further cooperation. The following types of events - mutual study tours, incl. joint workshops, joint participation in local fairs and farm markets, incl. contact events, ca 3 joint practical seminars and study tour to Leningrad oblast- will be organized for entrepreneurs.
At the same time participants learn new methods in product development, eco-farming, marketing, packaging, processing of horticultural products etc. For 2 groups involving ca 45 entrepreneurs partners organize a training programme with 8-10 modules (during 1,5 years). During the programme participants prepare their business plan for next 3 years using the support of project staff and external experts. Another aspect of the project approach is exchange of best practices when creating Processing and Packaging Centre “Active village” and Freezing Centre in the South-East Estonia. As there is a lack of opportunities for small producers for processing their products (berries, herbs, fruits etc), then there is a need to invest moder infrastructure in both side of the border enabling the target group to offer to customers products with higher added value.
New solution includes integrated support to the target group providing them new knowledge (theory), practical methods and case stories (practice), processing, freezing and packaging opportunities, marketing events (fairs, farm markets) etc. Usually SMEs are supported with a focus on specific support measures,but current project uses a more complex approach.
Objective:
Increasing rural SME's development and entrepreneurship by fostering cross-border cooperation and product development in horticultural sector. The objective will be achieved through organizing training and promotional activities, strengthening of cross-border business contacts and creation of modern infrastructure for processing of horticultural products in South-East Estonia and Pskov region.
Results:
The assortment and volume of farm products and processed local food products will increase and the competitiveness of rural SMEs in project area will be improved. It will happen due to substantial and active involvement of rural SMEs to project activities. Rural SMEs and gardeners from horticultural sector will be provided with modern infrastructure and equipment for product development and processing of primary farming products (freezing, drying etc). Higher number of SMEs actively engaged in joint product development and cross-border cooperation supports the socio-economical development and sustainability of rural border areas. In total ca 60 rural SME's from South-East Estonia and Pskov region will be involved to project, from which ca 45 participate actively in training programme and use the services of Centre "Active Village" and Freezing Centre in Setomaa on regular basis.
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Expected Outputs (EN): As a result of the project "Active Village" the assortment and volume of farm products and processed local food products will increase.
Also the competitiveness of rural SMEs in project area will be improved. It will happen due to substantial and active involvement of rural SMEs to project activities. Rural SMEs and gardeners from horticultural sector will be provided with modern infrastructure and equipment for product development and processing (freezing, drying, packaging). of primary farming products
Involvement of local inhabitants to rural entrepreneurship and therefore raising living standards of persons in project area is the second expected result of the project.
Higher attractiveness of the rural life, raising interest in rural entrepreneurship, eco-farming, healthy lifestyle and ecotourism is also one of the expected results. Higher number of rural SMEs actively engaged in joint product development and cross-border cooperation supports the socio-economical development and sustainability of rural border areas.
In total ca 60 rural SME's from South-East Estonia and Pskov region will be involved to project activities and events, from which ca 45 participate actively in training programme and use the services of Centre "Active Village" and Freezing Centre in Setomaa on regular basis.
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