The Rural Support Service (RSS) has significantly improved its work, making it easier for farmers, fishermen, and foresters to apply for projects under various support measures (interventions) using fewer resources, as well as making it easier to work during project implementation.
Application for project implementation in various support measures (interventions) – simplified
In order to apply for various investment measures, application forms have been simplified, which automatically display information from the State Revenue Service and other institutional systems, descriptions of previous projects implemented by the specific client, information on areas if the client has applied for area payments, data from the animal register, and other information.
Changes have been made to the Cabinet of Ministers regulations to make the procurement procedure more convenient. If a client has to make a purchase because they cannot use the options in the Equipment and Machinery Catalog, then two bids are required for the purchase, rather than three as was previously the case. The threshold for price surveys has been increased from EUR 1,000 to EUR 2,000. The information required to complete the price survey in the RSS Electronic Application System has been simplified: in the case of a simplified price survey, the customer has to enter less information when submitting a project application.
In several cases, customers can skip the procurement procedure and use the Equipment and Machinery Catalog instead, which significantly reduces the bureaucratic burden, as the necessary equipment or machinery can be selected from the catalog.
The catalog provides convenient and comprehensive information about the equipment that customers can purchase. The advantage is that farmers spend less time filling out project applications and can more easily select the appropriate equipment and machinery for the implementation of their planned projects. It will also reduce the possibility of errors in the preparation and verification of cost-justifying project documentation.
Project implementation and payment requests
RSS evaluates and ranks submitted projects more quickly – on average, this process is completed one week earlier than before. The review of submitted payment requests is also faster, which means that clients receive funding more quickly so that they can successfully achieve their goals.
During the course of the project, RSS has placed greater trust in clients and significantly reduced the number of on-site inspections. Given the type of project implemented, customers must submit photographs confirming the compliance of equipment, construction, or other investments, so RSS inspectors no longer visit farms for inspections.
During the project monitoring period, RSS does not require clients to submit reports, but uses data from the State Revenue Service, the Animal Register, and area payments. RSS no longer requires processing companies implementing projects to submit certificates from the Food and Veterinary Service and the State Environmental Service.
There has been much discussion about the equipment that farmers can purchase. Proposals have been received to allow the purchase of older used equipment, so under the support measure for small farmers and the modernization measure, farmers can purchase used equipment up to 15 years old, provided that the age of the equipment can be accurately identified.
Consultative support and visual identity requirements
Rural Support Service follows a "consult first" approach – providing all necessary information to clients before they submit their projects, explaining how to comply with the conditions correctly so that as many clients as possible prepare correct and appropriate project applications. Clients can contact RSS specialists on a daily basis using the channels that are most convenient for each client:
- visit 10 customer service centers in various locations in Latvia, as well as receive in-person consultations in several sectors;
- call the customer service line +371 67095000 on working days from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.;
- send an e-mail to receive a written response;
- if necessary, arrange for online communication.
Given that beneficiaries must comply with very strict visual identity requirements, RSS has prepared explanatory information on the requirements with sample posters and signs.
RSS also offers individual consultations to clients to ensure that all visual identity requirements are met appropriately on each farm or in each company. Considering that clients do not always have the opportunity to print posters, RSS prepares them in printed form for clients in agricultural, fisheries, and forestry support measures.
