Rural Development Programme for Mainland Finland 2014–2020

The implementation of the Rural Development Programme continued during the transition period 2021-2022. Read more about the Rural Development Programme at https://arkisto.maaseutu.fi/en. Please note that the website will no longer be updated.

During the funding period 2023-2027, rural development measures are included in Finland's CAP Strategic Plan.

The Rural Development Programme for Mainland Finland – the Rural Development Programme for short – is a tool for making the Finnish countryside a better place to live in.

Focus areas for rural development

The three focus areas were the following:

• Promote bioeconomy and, as part of it, agriculture that is economically, socially and ecologically sustainable and ethically acceptable
• Diversify rural industries and create employment by improving the competitiveness of businesses, supporting new entrepreneurship and promoting the networking of companies.
• Improve vitality and quality of life in rural areas by strengthening independent local activities
• The strategy is coordinated by the rural development unit of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Finland’s Rural Development Strategy for the period 2014–2020 focused on:

• Improved skills and dissemination of information, and more innovations and co-operation in rural areas
• More effective climate change mitigation and adaptation
• Increased biodiversity, improved status of water bodies and soil in agricultural use
• Diversification of rural enterprising and higher employment, better services and improved possibilities for participation
• Improved competitiveness of agricultural production
• Rural enterprises respond to consumer demand and values by producing high-quality food and by improving animal welfare

The tools of the programme

The tools of the programme were called measures, and the programme was implemented through them. Such measures are associated with opportunities for obtaining support that are available to everyone. The measures available in Finland were the following:

• Training and provision of information
• Provision of advice
• Investments in physical property
• Various forms of start-up support
• Development of economic activities and farms
• Development of services and villages
• Environmental compensation payments
• Organic production
• Natural handicap payments
• Animal welfare
• Cooperation and innovation
• Leader

Who benefited from the Rural Development Programme and how?

The Rural Development Programme benefited farmers, enterprises and residents in rural areas as well as the environment as a whole. The network of operators working within the scope of the programme also included various educational institutions, development organisations, municipalities and local Leader action groups.

Agricultural entrepreneurs

Funding under the programme was allocated to agricultural entrepreneurs as compensation for farming in Finland’s northern conditions and for environmental work in agriculture. Environmental compensation provided significant opportunities for promoting environmental issues not only on farms but also in a wider context. The programme included the provision of advice and training that contributes to increased understanding regarding energy efficiency, environmental issues and animal welfare. Farms were also able to receive subsidies for various investments aimed at increasing their competitiveness and enhancing the environmentally friendly aspect of their operations.

Enterprises in rural areas

Small and medium-sized enterprises in rural areas play an important role in providing employment, with the Rural Development Programme aiding them in starting, diversifying and growing their business operations. Enterprises received subsidies for various purposes including product development, marketing, testing of new concepts, globalisation and collaboration. The programme aimed to create practical conditions for bioeconomy in which the process of putting research and existing knowledge to good use was of major importance.

People living in rural areas

People living in rural areas could take advantage of the programme to develop their living environment in a more attractive direction, make their area more accessible and improve its services.
 
The programme supported new technology and methods that were able to be used to develop services. Bringing enhanced broadband connections to rural areas provides businesses operating in those areas with better opportunities and makes such areas more attractive as a living environment.

Projects

Development organisations, municipalities, enterprises and people can together draft local, regional and international projects that support the development of various sources of livelihood, skills and services. 

The program measures also continued in 2021 - 2022

During the transition period, the measures of the current budget period continued in the normal way, but the funds came from the budget of the new period.

Watch the video!

The Rural Development Programme for Mainland Finland continued to develop the countryside to make it even more viral than before.