Country: Hungary
Wellbeing of Farmers: Mental Wellbeing, Social Wellbeing
Key Challenges: Low farm income (market vulnerability), Administrative burden, Lack of attractiveness of certain farming profession, Pressure from society/negative perceptions
Key Target Groups: Young farmers, Female farmers, Older farmers, Farmers facing financial difficulties, Food and handicraft producers, Tourism service providers
Farm Size: Small/Family
Find Out More
Key contact: Katalin Kujáni
Email: kisleptek@gmail.com
Organization: KISLÉPTÉK (National Association of Interest Representations for Small-scale producers and service providers)
Relevant Links:
Summary
KISLÉPTÉK ((National Association of Interest Representations for Small-scale producers and service providers) was established in 2014 by small-scale farmers, food and handicraft producers, tourism service providers and NGOs active in these fields. The main aim of the organisation is to improve the legal and economic working environment of these small-scale actors by helping in representation, enforcement and protection of their interests.
The association builds and maintains network of small-scale farmers and producers, provides knowledge and platform for knowledge transfer, organise markets, gives legal and administrative advice. It provides various kinds of services that are unattainable for many of these small-scale farmers, businesses and local communities.
The main goal is to help these actors to reach economically, environmentally and socially more sustainable operation. Through these activities the association contributes to reduce the stress of running a farm or a small business in rural areas.
Objective
The aim of the association is helping farmers, food and handicraft producers, tourism service providers to understand the legislation that determines the conditions of their activities.
By providing communication bridges between producers and legislators, representing the producers interests towards decision makers.
Helping the producers’ problem solving and development by providing information, trainings, interactive programmes, good practices etc.
Activities
- Facilitating the conditions of production and promotion of small-scale producers of food and handicrafts.
- Creation of a flexible regulatory framework for the production of foodstuffs in private dwelling houses.
- Stimulation of non-profit trade and short food supply chains
- Development of ecologically sound rural tourism that is based on traditions (Green road, Fish road, etc.)
- Assistance for self-employment
- Assessment and support of producers, expansion of their knowledge
- Creation of a union for representing interests
- Legal assistance in requesting modification of legislations, or official standpoints.
- Establishment of an international partnership and co-operation in interests
- Presentation of good practices
Main Outcome of the activity
Farmers, by knowing, interpreting and being able to use the legal obligations and regulatory requirements that apply to them, learning about their rights, feel less exposed and vulnerable, their fear of penalty and stress due to ignorance decreases, and, in this way their self-confidence and mental well-being increases.
Main Practical Recommendations
Through the activities of the Kislépték Association, producers gain knowledge that reduces their exposure to the authorities. Their income will increase through learning about the conditions of farm diversification and launching income-supplementing activities.
The programs and activities organized by the association activate the producers, thus reducing their isolation.
Key Stakeholders Involved
- small-scale agricultural producers
- processors of raw materials and foodstuffs
- handicraft manufacturers
- civil organizations
Most Innovative Aspects of the Solution
Innovativeness lies in the fact that the organization builds a communication bridge between producers and decision-makers and legislators, transfer international and domestic good practices and helps to create a realistic, practical and interpretable regulatory environment by bringing points of view closer together.