Medicinal & Aromatic Plants
Open Access

Abstract

Public Funds Disbursement for the MAP Sector: 2007-2013

Barbieri C

This work aimed to explore the financial aid provided by the Rural Development Program (RDP) to the Piedmont Region (Italy) of the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAP) sector during 2007-2013. Moreover, this work is a first step to increased knowledge in a field that’s public and private operators claim a ‘lack of information.’ Specifically, an identification and analysis of the funds disbursed to specialized and unspecialized MAP farms at the regional and sub-regional (Province) levels was performed, as the RDP of the Piedmont contains no measures specific to the sector. Results showed that MAP farmers sought funds for agricultural asset (facility) modernization and for increased participation in food quality programs. Additionally, the farms received support through measures aimed to protect the agro-environment, especially for adoption of organic cultivation techniques.