The use of impact indicators for the evaluation of support for

investment in agricultural holdings : case study of the Rural

Development Programme for Wallonia (2000-2006)

The use of impact indicators for the evaluation of support for

investment in agricultural holdings : case study of the Rural Development

Programme for Wallonia (2000-2006)

Presented by : Monika BECK

FUSAGx

Overview

Rural development policy Evaluation Investissement in agricultural holdings Gross farm income Conclusion of the first part of the research Current research

Rural development policy

Second Pillar of the CAP since Agenda 2000

Financial framework Governed by Council Regulation (EC)

N°1257/1999 Nine measures or chapters

Chapters of Council regulation (EC) N°1257/1999

I Investment in agricultural holdings

II Setting-up of young farmers

III Training

IV Early retirement

V LFA and Areas with environmental constraints

VI Agri-environnement

VII Processing and marketing of agricultural products

VIII Forestry

IX Promoting the adaptation and development of rural areas

EvaluationProgramming « cycle » : example of RDPs (2000-2006)

Appraisal

Programming

Programming

Financing

Implementation2000-2006

Appraisal

Evaluation ex ante1999

Mid-term Evaluation 2003

Ex post evaluation 2007

Impact evaluation

Evaluation : EC Guidelines

Common evaluation questions Criteria Indicators

Purpose : get comparable evaluation results from >80 regions in EU Member states – establish a synthesis at EU-level

Measures of CR (EC)N°1257/99

CEQ Criteria Indicators

I Investment in AH 7 11 17II Setting-up 5 7 8… … … …VI Agri-environnement 9 21 32VII Processing and marketin

5 13 14

VIII Forestry 6 12 16… … … …Cross-cutting questions 6 19 27Total 52 113 157

Investment in agricultural holdings

7 relevant CEQ, regarding agricultural incomes, reduction of production costs, increased product quality, diversification, environmentally friendly farming and animal welfare

11 criteria 17 indicators (mostly quantitative)

Some of the indicateurs (17)

Gross farm income Output per hectare Output per hour of labour Cost per unit of basic

product sold Number of assisted

holdings introducing alternative activities

Share of turnover from alternative act.

Price ratio of quality improved versus basic products

Gross sales of quality improved products

Nbr of full-time jobs created by alternative activities …etc.

………

Practical difficulties for establishing the indicators : data collection

Unclear definition of key terms (diversification, improved quality of farm products, environmental friendly farming, animal welfare)

Incomplete monitoring Indicators based on accounting - data protection

rules Costly and time consuming data collection at the

level of beneficiaries

Availibility of data at the mid-term review

Basic data (administrative files)

Number of indicators concerned

Available 1

Partially available 3

Not available 13

Indicators and possibilities of data collection

Possibilities of data collection

Number of indicators concerned

Monitoring 6

Agricultural accounts 4

Beneficiaries 7

Gross farm income

Data source (accountancies) Agricultural holding Representative time period Baseline situation

Conclusion

Evaluation input into policy making and management tool for policy implementation ?

CEQ, criteria and indicators should be simplified

Selection of a small number of key indicators

Current research

Does the « gross farm income » form a relevant indicator at EU – level? Detailed analysis of the « gross farm

income » and its relation to investment and financial sustainability of agricultural holdings in the Walloon region.

Analysis of the « gross farm income » in several regions of the EU

I thank you for your attention