engleski

Agricultural Consultancy Service in Croatia

The paper presents a historical review of development, critical perspective on the present status, and a vision of future new organisation of the agricultural extension service in Croatia. Previous organisation and activity of the agricultural extension service has rather been the result of the dogmatic approach of the state towards the village and agriculture than of farmers' need for expert advice and information. In contemplating the new organisation of the Agricultural Consultancy Extension Service, a realistic evaluation is required of the current status of agriculture, future avenues and the speed with which changes will be introduced. Based on this, and using the experience and functioning of the extension services in developed countries in Europe and the rest of the world, the basic postulation for organisation and work of the Agricultural Consultancy Service of Croatia are set. The Republic of Croatia had no systematically organised Consultancy Extension Service in former Yugoslavia. Since it gained its independence and set the new political and socio-economic system in 1991, the Agricultural Consultancy Service has been founded and reorganisatio is on course. In view of anticipated changes in agricultural structure in the future, measures for modernisation of the Agricultural Consultancy Service are proposed, as well as adaptation of the school system to that purpose. Small family farms are predominant in Croatian agriculture. Farms are still mainly using traditional production methods. The shift to a market economy and the new measures of agricultural policy will cause a certain polarisation between family farms and newly forming larger market-oriented and specialised producers. In the process of concentration of agricultural production, the role of the Agricultural Consultancy Service is important with regard to better functioning and development. The Agricultural Consultancy Service requirements are increased knowledge and greater manpower cost, while increased management complexity, specialisation and concentratio are characteristic of the production systems. Meetings, lectures, practical demonstrations of technology, mass media and introduction of computer technology are important aids which should be further developed as well as bigger financial aid for these purposes. These depend on a better future economic position for agriculture and economy as a whole.

Agricultural Consultancy Service; Croatia; Agricultural Education

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