A Delegation of the Paying Agency of Kosovo visits AMA

A one week's study visit of employees of the Paying Agency of Kosovo ended today. Agrarmarkt Austria (AMA), the Austrian Paying Agency for Agriculture and Rural Development, organized this study trip within the framework of the currently on-going Twinning project. During the week a broad programme, tackling many Paying Agency's tasks and responsibilities in a comprehensive way, was conducted. The programme included theoretical training on Direct Payment and Rural Development administration at AMA including the administration of animal premiums, central administration of Rural Development investment projects, AMA IT, AMA's project management and software development processes, organization of on-the-spot controls and financial administration. Also the internal document management system, quality management system, scanning and archiving was presented comprehensively.

Regarding practical experience, a local office of the Chamber of Agriculture was visited where the Kosovo experts learned about the local administration of Rural Development investment measures in Austria containing the complete process from development of business concepts, application service, approval and authorization of payments, administrative controls, software use etc.

The group also visited the local office of AMA in Graz, responsible for the conducting of on-the-spot controls. Kosovo's experts got acquainted with inspection orders, assignments of inspectors, and the use of software in particular GIS. The AMA inspectors performed measurement of grassland in mountainous regions using a GPS device. They also explained how to perform practical on-the-spot controls inspecting investments in farm buildings on an example of a cow shed investment.







 

The Kosovar delegation visiting a
farm in Tullnerfeld

The group in front of the recently
built bull shed









The Kosovarian team at the local
office  of the Chamber of Agriculture









Area meaurements - discussing
documents