Technical training programmes for agricultural maize advocates/consultants.

The goal is to provide extensive information on maize production techniques, on the use of maize for animal feed and on market trends.

Training sessions are held every year and are organised jointly with the participation of French experts from ARVALIS Plant Institute and Polish experts from scientific institutions in Poland (IHAR, IUNG and IOR) plus the faculties of agriculture in Poznan, Bydgoszcz, Olsztyn and Warsaw.

To promote French know-how in maize, articles on farming techniques, seed treatment, organisation after variety registration and on the maize seed certification system applying in France have been published in the specialist maize magazine, Kukurydza (published twice-yearly by PZPK), in the Breeding and Seed Production review (published by PIN) and in AgroSerwis a weekly on crop farming. 

Technical documents on maize are prepared by Polish and French experts (translated and adapted to the Polish context) and have been produced as printed material and PowerPoint presentations to help farmers gain access to and share the information.

One communication on maize dealing with public authorities and politicians was done through a scientific conference (in Puławy in November 2004) presenting bioethanol and GM maize.  Television reports helped raise the awareness of the general public on maize-related issues.

The annual Maize Forum is programmed at the same time as POLAGRA, the largest agricultural trade show in Poland, held in Poznań.

A vector for promotion and communication able to present maize, with technical and economic data plus statistics, has been set up on the Polish Websitehttp://www.kukurydza.org.pl/

The PZPK, together with the FNPSMS, holds annual Maize Days in different locations to inform farmers of innovations with the development of new varieties, farm machinery, crop protection and agronomics.

To gain optimal effects from activities and events, there was a clear need to rally support from Polish stakeholders, working with them to set up platforms for concerted efforts.
 
To help establish contacts with the agricultural development department, a network of 40 agricultural and dairy consultants and advisers has been set up covering the different regions in Poland.  These are the preferred FNPSMS contacts, working in the field and the maize advocates/consultants.  They supply relevant information on maize production in their respective regions and also act as hubs or relay points conveying information to farmers.   Farmers can access the data base presenting the maize advocates can be accessed by farmers via a portrait gallery. 
 
At the suggestion of the FNPSMS, the Polish association of maize producers (PZPK) has set up a special section for maize advocacy, comprised of representatives of professional organisations, scientific institutions, regional development services and seed companies.  The section draws up the annual programme of promotion initiatives and validates it.
 
One initiative by the Polish seed trade association (PIN) and the FNPSMS was the establishment of a special PIN “maize seed” section:
     - to monitor the maize seed market in Poland
     - to promote the use of quality, certified seed and genetic advances with maize
     - to work on the development of a post-registration network
     - and to monitor the listing of recommended varieties.
 

A data base has been set up;  it contains technical, economic and regulatory information and is updated twice a year.  At the same time, a descriptive study reporting on maize farms has been done on the basis of a survey of farmers in the different voivodeships (or provinces) in Poland.
 
     - It is essential to have proper knowledge of the situation of agriculture and in particular of the maize seed market in Poland so as to have better control of the market.  As a result of this, there have been many contacts with official bodies, such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Coboru, the seed research/testing centre, plus participation in conferences, symposiums and seminars on subjects related to maize and to the monitoring of changes in Polish legislation and regulations. 
 
     - Organising and running the meetings of the PIN seed maize section, pooling and sharing information on seed production, the economy of the seed market and inclusion of seed producers operating in Poland.
 
     - It is also important to highlight FNPSMS presence in Poland and establish networks of contacts and relations with the different partners to help promote seed produced in France. 

     - Articles on maize seed production in France and on the quality and features of the seed have been prepared by experts from ARVALIS and the FNPSMS and published in the specialised agricultural press in Poland, e.g. Kukurydza (published twice a year), AgroSerwis (weekly) and Hodowla i nasienictwo (quarterly).

     - When the Maize Congress was held in Lyon, a Polish television crew came to France to make two reports of the maize seed production sector in France.  These reports were then broadcast on public television in Poland, in the Agrolinia and Agrobizness, targeting an audience of farmers. 
 
     - Training sessions for persons working to promote maize seed production in France.  The trainees were then able to validate their newly acquired knowledge during a study trip through the Rhone-Alps region, following a programme covering the different production stages, from breeding to the point where the packaged seed leaves the processing plant.
 
     - Participation at POLAGRA agricultural show as part of the “French Pavilion” was an opportunity to present and promote the features of maize seed produced in France.  At the same time, the promotion booklet on the production network providing service to customers (in Polish) was distributed.
 
     - The features and advantages of French seed production were covered in a presentation at a seminar organised by seed companies for distributors who were members of the Polish seed trade association, PIN. 
 
     - News 
Since 2008, a number of operational activities, based on experience in Poland, are being conducted in Ukraine.