National Rural Development Programme (PSRN) 2014-2020.

This publication contains the complete text of the Italian National Rural Development Programme (PSRN) of the Ministry of Agricultural and Food Policies and Forestry for the period 2014-2020.
The National Rural Development Programme (PSRN 2014-2020), co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) referred to in Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, is the tool through which the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies aims to support and develop the potential of rural areas located and classified as such on the territory of the Republic of Italy.
The Strategic Environmental Assessment which is part of this document (Chapter 1), lists the following stages for its correct implementation: carrying out a verification of subjection; elaboration of the Environmental Report; consultation; evaluation of the Environmental Report and the results of the consultations; decision; information on the decision; monitoring.
These kind of assessments and evaluations highlighted the need to prepare the National Rural Development Programme (2014-2020) in order to implement some national level measures as regards the irrigation investments, risk management tools, and genetic improvement of livestock and animal biodiversity in general.
This text efforts the promotion of the overall competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises in the agricultural sector. Objectives laid down are to promote the organization of the agri-food chain, including the processing and marketing of agricultural products, animal welfare and risk management in the agricultural sector; to improve access to credit, business financing and risk management in agriculture; to support the prevention and management of corporate risks; to offer and use risk management tools in agriculture; to protect the environment and promote the efficient use of resources; to encourage the effective use of resources and the transition to a low carbon and climate resilient economy in the agri-food and forestry sector.
This Plan further addresses the necessary issues aimed at maintenance and improvement of the quality of water bodies and efficient management of irrigation, in order to make the use of water more efficient in agriculture. Among that, related measures are aimed to improve the efficient use of water resources through irrigation infrastructure; to preserve, restore and enhance the ecosystems connected to agriculture and forestry; to contribute to the stop of the loss of terrestrial biodiversity, also linked to the rural landscape and to maintain and restore ecosystem services. These actions shall be implemented through a safeguarding, restoring and improving of biodiversity in general, by promoting the genetic improvement of livestock and animal biodiversity through an innovative integrated system of zootechnical assistance.