The organic sector development and the organic sector in Slovakia

Mr. Ali Alizadeh, researcher at the Faculty of Agriculture at the Shiraz University in Iran, describes strategic recommendations for the development of the organic sector in countries starting with organic. Marta Klimeková, researcher and project coordinator at the Slovak Agricultural Research Center – Research Institute of Plant Production in Piešt'any, reports on the organic sector in Slovakia.
Both were invited to the International Conference on the organic sector development in Central/Eastern European and Central Asian countries in Kyiv/Ukraine this year, where renowned professionals brought their expertise to the public.

Developing the organic sector gives all countries the possibility to solve important problems, but some challenges have to be faced as well. Mr. Alizadeh describes the strategic recommendations for the development of the organic sector in a country starting with organic in seven parts:
 

- Policies and organizational strategies
- Research strategies
- Strategies for producers
- Strategies for consumers
- Strategies for the market
- Strategies for industrial development
- Government roles
 

Even though important issues are solved by converting to organic agriculture, some challenges in countries starting with organic are posed. In a country like that, there is no suitable strategy and action plan and no organisation of the development. There is no certification system and no certified products are available. Research centers for organic systems and for the education of producers and consumers are also missing. The market starts off immature with insufficient processing factories. Financial support is also lacking.
 

As a first strategic step, policies and organizational strategies should be considered. Establishing an organic committee should be the first, but critical step. The committee is to establish an organic strategy and an action plan. As a second step, establishing organic research programs and centres, farms and greenhouses are necessary. Three aspects of organic systems should be considered most: horticulture, animal production and processing. A problem which occurs in developing countries is that the important training of specialists is not available, since there are no courses on organic agriculture and farming at universities. On-Farm workshops and internship or apprenticeship programs have to be arranged. This is also an important factor for the third step – the strategies of producers, who need to be trained. Advisory services and technical support for producers are other important factors.
 
As a forth step, strategies for consumers need to be developed. Surveys have to be conducted, focussing on consumers’ awareness levels, demand, preferences and their power of payment. Educating customers is another very important factor as well as the increase of customers’ trust in organic products. As a fifth move, strategies for the market need to be developed- market surveys might be helpful and an increasing promotion for certified organic products must be attended. The improvement of marketing systems should be concerned, like for local markets, farm markets and for export. For industrial development, strategy number six is important. Input factories should be extended. The government also plays an important role. Step number seven recommends governmental premiums for organic producers to improve the availability of organic materials. The government is to support cooperative production and to help establish advisory services and research centers. Deleting tax can also be a measure.
 

In the Slovak Republic, the development of organic farming has already started in 1991. In 1995, the “Conception of Organic Agriculture in Slovakia” was approved by the government. In 1998, the Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic (224/1998) on ecological agriculture and the production of bio-food was adopted. After admission to the EU, organic agriculture has been carried out in compliance with the EC Regulation 2092/1991.
 

A detailed SWOT analysis had been done before the Action Plan and Organic Agriculture for the country was worked out. The results showed that there were some strong and developed areas of organic farming in the country like the legislation, the control and certification system and the state support. The main weak and underdeveloped areas were the domestic market with organic farming products, the non-existing advisory system for organic farming and the insufficient propagation, education and research. Opportunities were seen in the fact that there were regional specialities, in the employment in rural areas, the export possibilities and the chance for small companies and family farms to develop. There was, however, a weak public awareness and a low purchasing capacity of the population. The possibility of GMO contamination was regarded as an urgent threat. Product falsification also posed a danger.
 

The necessity to prepare an Action Plan has resulted from the conclusions of the international conference on organic farming held in 2004 (ECOMIT). In 2005, the Action Plan for Organic Agriculture in Slovakia became the new strategic document for organic agriculture. The Action Plain has the following priorities: organic production, processing and selling support, marketing and quality of organic production, information and propagations system, research, education, consulting and institutional support. 
 

Slovakia experienced the greatest rise of organically farmed land between 1997 and 1998 with 55 %. At the end of 2007, almost 123,000 ha of agricultural land were managed according to organic guidelines. 84,000 hectares were arable land, 707 ha were covered with orchards and 53 hectares with vineyards. 338 organic units were registered in the system. The area managed organically represented 6.32 % of all farmland in the Slovak Republic (source: UKSUP, 2008).

The 2nd Exhibition of Bio-Food and Processing Technologies, Bio-Agrocomplex 2008, was held from August 21st tod 25th this year at the Exhibition in Nitra as the sub-exhibition of the 35th International Agricultural and Food Fair Agrokomplex 2008. Ecological agriculture as well as organic food experiences an increasing interest with the public were the focal points of the lectures and workshops. Lecures dealt with legal regulations of organic agriculture, the registration system, an analysis of the present situation, observations from research, and cultivation of medical herbs, wheat and spelt. In 2007, 616 exhibitors presented their offers within the total exhibition area of 21,300 m2.The exhibition was attended by 82,186 visitors, of whom 28 % were from the professional public.
 

The most important activity in 2008 will be the organisation of the 5th international conference on sustainable framings systems - Ecomit. The event will provide a forum to discuss the latest knowledge, problems and solutions in agricultural research, emphasising on soil and climate change. One of the aims will also be to create an information bridge among European scientific and research communities which will contribute to the strengthening of partnerships and scientific collaboration.