EU Farmer Survey Reveals Administrative Burdens, Paving the Way for Change
April 13, 2024The European Commission has released preliminary findings from its farmer simplification survey, a landmark initiative undertaken to better understand and alleviate the administrative burdens agricultural producers face. The survey, which drew nearly 27,000 responses, provides key insights into the challenges farmers grapple with.
Who Responded: 81% of respondents were farmers applying for Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) support, with a significant representation of producers between 30 and 64 years old and farms sized 5-50 hectares.
Key Findings:
- Administrative Overload: One-third of respondents spend over a full workweek annually on administrative tasks related to CAP aid applications.
- Outside Assistance: A staggering 78% of farmers seek external help with CAP applications, relying on farmer associations, private consultancies, or public authorities.
- Digital Challenges: Half of the farmers who use mobile devices for providing geo-tagged photos to authorities encounter difficulties, citing time-consuming processes or lack of feedback.
- On-Site Checks: Preparing for and following up on-site inspections (which may or may not be CAP-related) occupies farmers for at least half a day, with multiple annual inspections being common.
Positive Changes on the Horizon
The Commission’s previously announced simplification measures already address a critical concern voiced in the survey. Plans to streamline certain on-site check procedures have the potential to reduce farm visits by national authorities by a significant 50%, giving farmers valuable time back.
More to Come: The Commission intends to conduct further interviews with farmers and their representative organizations to gain deeper insights. A detailed analysis is expected in Autumn 2024, which will endeavor to pinpoint the root causes of farmers’ administrative complexities at the EU, national, CAP, and other levels.
