Description

The compensatory allowance for landscape management compensates for costs or loss of income and other disadvantages on farmland in mountain regions and other disadvantaged agricultural zones (e.g. wetlands or steeply sloping areas). It therefore promotes arable or livestock farming practices that preserve a certain agricultural structure and cultural landscape that would not be competitive without support (e.g. preserving mountain pastures or managing grassland in protected areas).

Requirements

• Clear and coherent political strategy and targets for policy-makers and public authorities
• Clear responsibilities in public authorities
• Close cooperation and knowledge sharing with farmers' organisations
• Ownership and initiative on behalf of the local population
• Respect for cultural landscape and traditions
• Regulated and legally protected payment structures
• Monitoring and control system for the agricultural production processes supported

Possible Negative Effects

• The allowance preserves non-competitive structures and can prevent modernisation
• High operational risk that could potentially threaten the existence of farmers if premium payments were to cease
• Nepotism and corruption