Increasing market share and boosting competitiveness of farmers through vocational qualification opportunities

Context The territory of the municipalities of Dryanovo and Tryavna is composed mainly of mountainous and foothill areas, fertile land is scarce, which is why agriculture is not a priority sector. However, about 11% of wheat, 15% of barley, 28.57% of oats and 16.69% of corn in Gabrovo district are grown here. Cattle breeding is mainly focused on milk and dairy products. There are favorable conditions for producing ecologically clean food. Active beekeepers operate on the territory, producing honey and bee products from the Balkans. There are also agricultural farms with orchards. ("Studies and analyzes of the territory of the Dryanovo - Tryavna LAG - in the heart of the Balkans"). Needs The SWAT analysis of the territory takes into account several weaknesses, two of which the current project aims to make a positive impact on: - low qualification of the labor force and low interest in trainings, discrepancy between the qualifications demanded and the qualified work force available at local level; - lack of good practices on local food supplies. This project will take action to: - raise the farmers' awareness and motivation for vocational qualifications (VQs); - promote the importance of VQs for farmers' competitiveness and market share at different levels - regional, national, European; - increase farmers' access to innovative practices for advertising and product delivery and to open educational resources;. Results: - 15 farmers and farm employees will take a short VQ course in the professional occupation "Technician-technologist in the food industry" and will acquire knowledge and skills to apply ICTs in promotion, advertising and shortening the supply chains. - 15 farmers and farm employees will participate in an 8-hour workshop, where they will learn about a relatively new and unpopular practice of acquiring VQs and will increase their understanding of the role of VQs in the success of farms.

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