Evaluation of the Farming Connect Development Programmes

Descriptions

Farming Connect (FC) is an integrated, high profile, Wales-wide service for farming families. It is funded through the Rural Development Plan 2007 - 2013 which is financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Assembly Government. Further information about Farming Connect can be found at this link http://wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/farmingconnect/?lang=enThere are currently five sector specific development programmes and these were formed to ensure that new technical developments in production methods and up to date market information were disseminated to all farmers in Wales. The role of the Development Programme is to co-ordinate the transfer of technology between Research & Development Institutes and programmes, market information organisations and commercial farms primarily through farm open days, discussion groups, factsheets and newsletters.The aim of the evaluation is to establish the impact of the FC Development Programme on the Farming Industry in Wales. The evaluation will need to inform the project management team as to whether further intervention of this nature is required, and if so what the future programme could look like.The new phase of FC launched in 2008 has placed more emphasis on knowledge transfer (KT) than in the previous programme. The Development Programmes and associated activities have not been evaluated to date in terms of their effectiveness in facilitating the KT process or against their funding objectives. It is proposed that an evaluation of the Development Programmes’ activities is to be carried out to ensure that the delivery mechanisms currently adopted and utilised by the Development Programmes are the most effective methods in exchanging information and in creating an impact on those farmers that attend and engage in FC KT activities, and to others within the industry. The Welsh Assembly Government, on behalf of the Welsh Ministers, will be conducting this If the process is being let using the e-procurement process the following wording should be added (If not this and all references to bravo solutions should be deleted): procurement exercise through the etenderwales portal https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk. Tender documents and other information must be downloaded from and returned through this portal. If you require any further assistance the BravoSolution helpdesk is available on:Email: help@bravosolution.co.uk Phone: 0800 3684850 / Fax: 020 7060 0480Full information in accessing the portal is found in Section VI.3