The Agriculture Ministry will collaborate with the Romanian Orthodox Church to convince farmers to join producer associations and cooperatives.

The budget for this program amounts to EUR 2.2 million for five years, reports local Profit.ro.

Romanian farmers are still reluctant to join cooperatives. Only 1% of the total number of farmers are part of producer associations. The Government’s target is to get about 20% of the small and medium farmers to join cooperatives and associations by 2020.

The Agriculture Ministry will collaborate with priests, because the Church is highly trusted in villages. Priests should explain to farmers the advantages of joining associations.

Three years ago, the Ministry Agriculture also collaborated with the Orthodox Church for convincing farmers to access EU funds.

editor@romania-insider.com