Many northern countries (e.g. EU member states and the USA) do provide financial help for the conversion to organic agriculture, as do a few developing countries (e.g. Tunisia).
This can be very important for the farm economy as the period of conversion often leads to falling yields as it takes time for full biological activity of the agro-ecosystem to be restored.
Intervention may come in a variety of forms including compensation for losses (as during conversion products cannot be sold as organic), integration of extra costs (e.g. certification) or support for infrastructure developments (e.g. for the purchase of machinery or for restructuring rural buildings).
This help may be available during the conversion period, but also, in some cases, for a period after, or under the guise of a different scheme. These payments are often made as a specific sum per hectare, but may also include tax reductions or preferential conditions for credit.
Direct help may be complemented by indirect financial help. This comes in the form of investment in research, rural extension and training for farmers, and organic market development (e.g. awareness campaigns). The premium prices paid by the consumer for the organic produce also form an economic incentive for the individual farmer. Help available to the farmer is, however, very country specific.
For further details you should contact your own country's department that deals with organic agriculture. This might include the ministry for the environment, agriculture or commerce (or their equivalents), regional and/or local government or perhaps a specialized agency.
Information about state support and policy initiatives in Europe can be found in the country reports of the Organic Farming in Europe website. For the USA, search the pages of the National Organic Programme.
This can be very important for the farm economy as the period of conversion often leads to falling yields as it takes time for full biological activity of the agro-ecosystem to be restored.
Intervention may come in a variety of forms including compensation for losses (as during conversion products cannot be sold as organic), integration of extra costs (e.g. certification) or support for infrastructure developments (e.g. for the purchase of machinery or for restructuring rural buildings).
This help may be available during the conversion period, but also, in some cases, for a period after, or under the guise of a different scheme. These payments are often made as a specific sum per hectare, but may also include tax reductions or preferential conditions for credit.
Direct help may be complemented by indirect financial help. This comes in the form of investment in research, rural extension and training for farmers, and organic market development (e.g. awareness campaigns). The premium prices paid by the consumer for the organic produce also form an economic incentive for the individual farmer. Help available to the farmer is, however, very country specific.
For further details you should contact your own country's department that deals with organic agriculture. This might include the ministry for the environment, agriculture or commerce (or their equivalents), regional and/or local government or perhaps a specialized agency.
Information about state support and policy initiatives in Europe can be found in the country reports of the Organic Farming in Europe website. For the USA, search the pages of the National Organic Programme.
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