National Rural Development Programme.

National Rural Development Programme is a national cross-sectoral programme of Romania covering the period 2014-2020. Its main objectives are restructuring and increasing farm viability; sustainable management of natural resources and tackling climate change; and diversification of economic activities, creation of jobs, improvement of infrastructure and services for improving the quality of life in rural areas.
In the area of environment protection, the Programme provides for reducing green house gas and ammonia emissions from agriculture; restoring, preserving and enhancing biodiversity; preventing soil erosion and improving soil management; increasing efficiency in water use by agriculture; and fostering carbon conservation and sequestration in agriculture and forestry.
Additionally, the Programme aims for more efficient agricultural and food systems including by fostering innovation, cooperation, and the development of the knowledge base in rural areas; improving the economic performance of all farms and facilitating farm restructuring and modernisation, notably with a view to increasing market participation and orientation as well as agricultural diversification; facilitating the entry of adequately skilled farmers into the agricultural sector and, in particular, generational renewal; improving competitiveness of primary producers by better integrating them into the agri-food chain through quality schemes, adding value to agricultural products, promotion in local markets and short supply circuits, producer groups and inter-branch organizations; facilitating diversification, creation and development of small enterprises, as well as job creation; fostering innovation, cooperation, and the development of the knowledge base in rural areas; strengthening the links between agriculture, food production and forestry and research and innovation, including for the purpose of improved environmental management and performance, improving competitiveness of primary producers by better integrating them into the agri-food chain through quality schemes, adding value to agricultural products, promotion in local markets and short supply circuits, producer groups and inter-branch organizations.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has overall responsibility for the operation and governance of the monitoring and evaluation system, including quality, timing and communication of results. In addition, a Monitoring Committee will be formed which will examine the implementation of the Programme and the progress towards its objectives, mainly through the use of indicators. Beneficiaries are involved in the monitoring and evaluation process in two ways. First, they are asked to provide information required for monitoring and evaluation, and to participate in different evaluation surveys. And second, beneficiaries are involved through their representative organizations (farmer associations, SME associations, etc.), as partners in the Monitoring Committee.