Impact of pandemics on rural areas

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Slovakia Region

Pilot

Slovakia Region

Slovakia has 5,4 million inhabitants and covers the territory of 49 036 km2. Highlands and mountains cover 60% of its territory and lowlands 40%. At the European level, it has a character of mountain and sub montane landscape. According to the territorial-legal division, Slovakia is divided into 4 areas (NUTS 2), 8 regions (NUTS 3), 79 districts (LAU1), 2890 municipalities (LAU2) of which 138 have the status of a city

INTRODUCTION
PRIORITY ISSUES

Introduction

The Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra (Partner) will lead the pilot and will be supported by the Municipality of Nitra (Partner), Agroinstitut (Partner) and Rural Parliament (Partner).

Slovakia is the only pilot region covering the territory of a whole country thus providing a unique opportunity to use the outcomes of the project for both the regional and national policies.

Based on a new typology of rural areas developed by the European Commission (Eurostat), Slovakia is 50.3% prevailing in predominantly rural areas, 38.4% in transitional areas and 11.2% in predominantly urban areas. Of the total area of the SR according to individual types of regions, the largest share is 59% also in predominantly rural, 36.8% share is in transition regions and the lowest share 4.2% is predominantly in urban regions. Total rural regions thus account for 95.8% of the territory of the country.

Slovakia was a traditionally rural and agricultural country with a 38% share of the rural population (more than 2 million people) in the total population (the EU average is 19%). However, the situation in the Slovak agriculture is not good in the long term, with a tendency to deteriorate year-on-year. Over the last two decades the country was changed into an industrial one, mainly due to the massive introduction of automobile industry, often taking high quality arable land close to highways.

Access to land is the main obstacle hindering the rural development in the country, especially in relation to young, small and family farmers, as well as potential new entrants. In 2016, the acreage of utilized agricultural land accounted for 1,918,878 h. Of the total acreage of utilized agricultural land, approximately 90% of agricultural land was leased depending on the district.

The prevailing part of agricultural entities had a fixed rent independent of the official price of land. Another part of farmers had higher rent set from 1.5% to 2.5% of the official price of land. The lowest rent for 1 ha of agricultural land was in Žilina County (€18.15/ha) and Prešov County (€22.18/ha). The highest rent was in Trnava County (€80.93/ha). In 2016, the number of workers in agriculture accounted for 50,100 people, which, on a year-over-year basis, was lower by 4.2 %, i.e. by 2,200 working people.

PRIORITY ISSUES

The pilot will implement business-oriented measures focusing not only on farming but also on entrepreneurship in fields like production of traditional goods, innovation in agro-sector and in historical, cultural or natural places of interest with touristic potential.

To design a new longer-term policy at the regional level to support existing farmers and to encourage new entrants into farming, with a focus on women, smallholders, family farmers and youth and with the active participation of all relevant stakeholders throughout the whole process of preparation, elaboration, approval and implementation. Special attention will be payed to land access as the main problem for new entrants.

Documentation

OVERALL AMBITION

To increase the attractiveness of the region, well-being of the existing rural population and attract newcomers, while not affecting the symbiosis between city and rural areas, by introducing policies reflecting the needs of local entrepreneurs and demand of local population, safeguarding the environment and biodiversity at the same time. Introducing a new way of deciding upon and implementing public policies in cooperation and consultation with all relevant stakeholders during all stages.

Expected outputs

• Sufficient, categorized and sex-disaggregated data on local production for objective and evidence based decision making; • New Regional Rural Development Strategy; • Manual of Standards (Regional Culinary Heritage); • Basis of establishment of single national advisory system for farmers; • Establishment of start-up Food Incubator; • Informal virtual platform comprising database of local producers, manuals of support, manuals of standard, manuals for school and producers and catalogue of producers and seasonal and traditional products; • Map or web application of producers; • Support of creative tourism and agrotourism.

Expected impact (qualitative)

• Establishment of cooperation among relevant stakeholders in the region with a special focus on women, youth and potential/or newcomers; • Safeguard continuation of cooperation among stakeholders after the end of project; • Empowerment of the stakeholders in the region on rural attractiveness issues; • Elaboration of the Regional Rural Development Strategy; • Strengthen the agricultural importance of the region in the regional and national economy; • Increase attractiveness of rural areas and rural professions; • Establishment of Innovation Center/Hub for the region; • Using advanced tool of text mining for policymaking; • Decision making at the regional level done on the basis of evidence and not political interests; • Increased effectiveness of new or enhanced regional policies.

Policy makers

RURAL COMMUNITY

New entrants

Experts

Progress bar

Progress bar can help orient the user in terms of what the pilot was doing, what is happening now and what will happen in the future. While the structure of the bar will be the same for all pilots, its content will differ from pilot to pilot. A dynamic front end with a predetermined colour scheme can be used to differentiate past, present and future, like in the graphic below.

NeEDS gathering

Policy matching

Policy evaluation

Future outlook

Mission orientation

Slovakia - outcomes

NEEDS GATHERING

PILLAR	STRENGTHS	WEAKNESSES	OPPORTUNITIES	THREATS
1. Availability of public and other services	There is sufficient public transportation to hospital of reference/Specialized health care premises.	The mobility possibilities to the main city in the region are not sufficient.	The mobility possibilities to the main city in the region are not sufficient.	There is not enough support for tele-working opportunities in the area.
	There is sufficient public transportation to secondary and vocational schools and universities.	The connections between rural and urban areas (e.g. airports, train connection) are not sufficient.	There is no adequate public support for the provision of e-health, e-daycare and/or e-learning services.
	There are good schools (kindergarten and primary) in the area.
	There are opportunities for higher or professional education and lifelong learning in the area.
	There are good daycare facilities in the area.	There are no sufficient good medical (primary attention) services in your village/region.
	There is a good internet/telecom connectivity (4G/5G/fiber).
	The security is not a problem in the area.
2. Recreation / social activities	Extracurricular activities (e.g.: music, dance, arts) for children are accessible in the area.	There is not plenty of good and different recreational activities in the area.	Recreational and social activities are important.	There are not enough recreational activities for young people in the area.
	Elderly people are offered activities and a space where to meet.			There are not enough and well provided spaces to allow young people to meet.
	This area offers quality commercial services such as restaurants, shops, car maintenance, etc.
3. Living condition, quality of life and standard of living	People are proud of living in the area.	There are problems with the integration of some part of populations (minorities, new entries)	Housing opportunities are not yet sufficiently adequate in the area.
	There are no social or political conflicts in the area.		Living conditions (family development, air quality, accessibility, …) are not yet sufficiently considered of quality.
4. Demographic & human capital	There are enough young people in the area.	The dependency ratio is not sound in the area; there are not enough working people to support the depend population (i.e. children, elderly).
	There are enough women in the area.	There are not enough babies born in the area.	It is possible to find marriage and dating partners from the area.
	There are enough women in the area.	Community and voluntary sector are not well developed focused on social needs and creation of new opportunities.
5. Business, economy & innovation		There are not enough possibilities for employment.	The area is good for new, innovative companies and creative professionals.	The area does not offer good opportunities for startups and creating new businesses.
		The area does not favor eco-firms and sustainable business (circular economy).	The area offers possibilities for sustainable agriculture and forestry.	There are not many instruments for financing innovative/new rural activities.
				There is not an adequate special taxation scheme to attract new businesses in the area.
				There are no adequate services for entrepreneurial support with the provision of experienced services.
6. Social and cultural aspects of rural areas	Women and men equally participate in decision making and working life	In the area do not exist sufficiently lively communities and citizen-driven local activities.	Loneliness and isolation affect quite a few people in the area.	There are no good opportunities for young people to participate in decision making.
6. Social and cultural aspects of rural areas	There are good opportunities for women to participate in various social activities and working life in the area.
7. Environment & Biodiversity	The area has wide open landscapes or other beautiful nature scenery.		High Nature Value Areas are not yet well valorized in the area.	Cultivation practices in the area are not done in environmentally sound way.
7. Environment & Biodiversity	Nature in the area is diverse.		Environment and nature play an important role.

POLICY MATCHING

Need	Title of the policy/programme/strategy	Level at which the policy is launched	Contact/Website of the policy
Need to promote job creation with adequate pay and with a view to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, eco-firms and sustainable business (circular economy).	Rural development program of Slovakia	EU level, Local /grassroot level	https://www.mpsr.sk/rozvoj-vidieka-a-priame-platby-rybne-hospodarstvo/prv-sr-2014-2020/47-43-935
	Rural development program of Slovakia	National level	https://www.mpsr.sk/rozvoj-vidieka-a-priame-platby-rybne-hospodarstvo/prv-sr-2014-2020/47-43-935, www.vupp.sk/04komodity.htm
	Program of Development of the Nitra Self-Governing Region	Regional level	https://www.unsk.sk/zobraz/sekciu/dokumenty-regionalneho-rozvoja
	human resources development	Regional level	http://www.unatin.ocu.sk/dokumenty/U%C5%88at%C3%ADn%20PHSR-1.pdf
	Program of economic and social development of the village	Regional level	www.obecsuchan.sk
	Public policy	National level	https://www.zabiedovo.sk/programy-a-plany.phtml?id3=114182
	maintaining the traditional rural environment	Local /grassroot level
	Forest Management Program	Local /grassroot level	http://www.forestportal.sk/lesne-hospodarstvo/hospodarska-uprava-lesov/program-starostlivosti-o-lesy/Stranky/default.aspx
Need to develop a long term vision for the development and stability of rural areas and agriculture with the aim to restore the self-sufficiency. Need to improve transparency of direct payments for farmers and rural development program projects. Need to pay special attention and give special support to young, family and small farmers.	Rural development program of Slovakia	EU level, Local /grassroot level	https://www.mpsr.sk/rozvoj-vidieka-a-priame-platby-rybne-hospodarstvo/prv-sr-2014-2020/47-43-935
	Rural development program of Slovakia	National level	www.vupp.sk/04komodity.htm
	Program of Development of the Nitra Self-Governing Region	Regional level	https://www.unsk.sk/zobraz/sekciu/dokumenty-regionalneho-rozvoja
	The economic development program of the municipality supports the development of the business environment in the municipality	Regional level, Local /grassroot level	www.bohelov.sk
	human resources development	Regional level	http://www.unatin.ocu.sk/dokumenty/U%C5%88at%C3%ADn%20PHSR-1.pdf
	Development of services and economic base of the municipality with emphasis on the use of the potential of the municipality	Local /grassroot level	http://habovka.sk/page.php?id=161
	Forest Land Management	National level	http://www.forestportal.sk/lesne-hospodarstvo/hospodarska-uprava-lesov/program-starostlivosti-o-lesy/Stranky/default.aspx
	Forest Management Program	Local /grassroot level	http://www.forestportal.sk/lesne-hospodarstvo/hospodarska-uprava-lesov/program-starostlivosti-o-lesy/Stranky/default.aspx
	NGO Christian in Rural Areas	Regional level	https://www.facebook.com/krestanNaVidieku/
Need to have sustainable settlements, regions and landscape in the context of climate change, specifically improving access to drinking water, sewerage and clean resources available, sustainable urban development, preventing climate change and, last but not least, protecting terrestrial life.	Rural development program of Slovakia	EU level, Local /grassroot level	https://www.mpsr.sk/rozvoj-vidieka-a-priame-platby-rybne-hospodarstvo/prv-sr-2014-2020/47-43-935
	Subsidy schemes / programs in the field of agriculture and rural development	National level
	Forest Management Program	Local /grassroot level	http://www.forestportal.sk/lesne-hospodarstvo/hospodarska-uprava-lesov/program-starostlivosti-o-lesy/Stranky/default.aspx
	Public policy	National level	https://www.zabiedovo.sk/programy-a-plany.phtml?id3=114182
	Program of Development of the Nitra Self-Governing Region	Regional level	https://www.unsk.sk/zobraz/sekciu/dokumenty-regionalneho-rozvoja
Need to improve the adequacy of housing opportunities in rural areas.	Rural development program of Slovakia	EU level, Local /grassroot level	https://www.mpsr.sk/rozvoj-vidieka-a-priame-platby-rybne-hospodarstvo/prv-sr-2014-2020/47-43-935
	Program of economic and social development of the town of Holíč for the years 2015-2021.	Local /grassroot level	https://www.holic.sk/index.php/dokumenty-k-stiahnutiu/strategicke/finish/37-strategicke-dokumenty/6905-program-hospodarskeho-a-socialneho-rozvoja-mesta-holic-na-roky-2015-2021
	The economic development program of the municipality of Bolešov supports development projects to improve the possibility of suitable housing in rural areas	International level	www.bohelov.sk
	Program of Development of the Nitra Self-Governing Region	Regional level	https://www.unsk.sk/zobraz/sekciu/dokumenty-regionalneho-rozvoja
	Community plan of the village	Local /grassroot level	www.miklusovce.sk
	Program of economic and social development of the village Pataš	Local /grassroot level	www.patas.sk
	Development of human resources, development of socio - cultural environment, local patriotism	Local /grassroot level	http://habovka.sk/page.php?id=161
	Community life and Services for the local population - OZ KNV in cooperation with municipal councils	National level	https://www.facebook.com/krestanNaVidieku/
Need to improve quality of public services, for example create and support tele-working opportunities,improve the mobility possibilities to the main city and the connections between rural and urban areas, increase good medical (primary attention) services and adequate public support for the provision of e-health, e-daycare and/or e-learning services, simplify the rules for direct sales of products from farms and restore local market halls and places.	Rural development program of Slovakia	EU level, Local /grassroot level	https://www.mpsr.sk/rozvoj-vidieka-a-priame-platby-rybne-hospodarstvo/prv-sr-2014-2020/47-43-935
	Program of Development of the Nitra Self-Governing Region	Regional level	https://www.unsk.sk/zobraz/sekciu/dokumenty-regionalneho-rozvoja
	Program of economic and social development of the town of Holíč for the years 2015-2021. Concept of development of information systems	EU level, Local /grassroot level, regional level, national level	https://www.holic.sk/index.php/dokumenty-k-stiahnutiu/strategicke/finish/37-strategicke-dokumenty/7542 koncepcia-rozvoja-informacnych-systemov-mesta-holic https://www.holic.sk/index.php/dokumenty-k-stiahnutiu/strategicke/finish/37-strategicke-dokumenty/6905-program-hospodarskeho-a-socialneho-rozvoja-mesta-holic-na-roky-2015-2021
	Public policy	National level	N/A
	The city of Detva does not have a special strategy for this issue, partly the issue is addressed in the Plan of economic and social development of the city and its action plan	Regional level	https://uradna-tabula.detva.sk/phsr-mesta-detva-na-roky-2015-2023.phtml?id3=121906
	Built and accessible technical and social infrastructure, neat and quality environment	Local /grassroot level	http://habovka.sk/page.php?id=161
	N/A	Local /grassroot level	N/A
	N/A	Local /grassroot level	N/A
	N/A	Local /grassroot level	N/A
	Ministries of Agriculture, Education, Transport, Health in cooperation with associations of towns and municipalities.	National level	https://www.facebook.com/krestanNaVidieku/
	N/A	National level, regional level	N/A
Need to increase the number of sufficiently lively communities In the area and citizen-driven local activities and need to promote local organizations promoting regional specialties, crafts, traditions.	Program of economic and social development of the town of Holíč for the years 2015-2021. Concept of development of information systems	EU level, Local /grassroot level, regional level, national level	https://www.holic.sk/index.php/dokumenty-k-stiahnutiu/strategicke/finish/37-strategicke-dokumenty/7542 koncepcia-rozvoja-informacnych-systemov-mesta-holic https://www.holic.sk/index.php/dokumenty-k-stiahnutiu/strategicke/finish/37-strategicke-dokumenty/6905-program-hospodarskeho-a-socialneho-rozvoja-mesta-holic-na-roky-2015-2021
	Economic development program of the village Boheľov	Local /grassroot level, Regional level	www.bohelov.sk

POLICY EVALUATION

Slovakia TM report [PDF, 233kB]

FUTURE OUTLOOK

PROCESS	DATE OR PERIOD
Complete the process of adoption of the package by actors	December 2020
Establish Monitoring Committee	January 2021
Establish Plan for monitoring and evaluation	March 2021
Introduce elements of the plan into identified policy processes	May 2021

MISSION ORIENTATION

OTHER

The following map shows the open land use map of Slovakia Region.

BEST PRACTICES

As part of the Polirural project, information on individual entrance case studies and other data from pilot regions will be published in the Atlas. The Atlas of the Best Practices visualizes relevant cases on a map and provides easily accessible information to inform and inspire other stakeholders. Best practices and pilot examples are collected by project project partners and there is a need to identify, synthesize, share and present individual examples and provide opportunities for new paths and other subjects. Below, you can see examples from Slovakia.

JAKUB DVORSKY

Jakub’s business idea is grounded in traditions and ancestral heritage enriched with innovative features Jakub introduced new elements of educational tourism into the village of Lišov. In 2015, he established the Museum of Lišov. The Museum of Lišov operates as an innovative community organization providing educational activities for tourists visiting the village.

Mgr. Art. Matej Rabada

The business is primarily a textile design. Our fabric designs are processed by the traditional techniques of blueprinting, inscribed on the UNESCO list of Intangible cultural heritage. Blueprint production is a combination of printing and dyeing crafts. The finished fabric is delivered to customers, or it is further processed into clothing under the brand MODROTLAČ RABADA.

ROZIAK FARM

Janka started her business after the Velvet Revolution (1989). Close to the end of her maternity leave, her original job was cancelled. She could not imagine going back to the office. She got an opportunity to live in a housing estate in a block of flats near the Zvolen centre. But it was impossible to imagine how to live there when she was aware of her father's house heritage in Môťová, to which she felt a strong family and emotional bond. She knows the local community well here, and she could not live in a housing estate with random people...