AGRICULTURAL POLLUTION REDUCTION ACTIVITY

1. AGRICULTURAL POLLUTION REDUCTION ACTIVITY APRA ROMANIA PROJECT Financed by USAID Assistance project for MAFWE Glen D. Anderson ProjectManager Project implemented by: International Resources Group

2. Objectives of APRA • Provide technical assistance in support of Romania’s implementation of the EU Nitrates Directive • Assist Calarasi County in developing actions to reduce nitrates pollution mainly from agricultural sourcesin designated nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZ)

3. Project Implementation Approach • At the county level, demonstrate methodology for assessing nitrate pollution problems and preparing a nitrates local action programme • Extend lessons learned at the county level to other NVZ through development of guidance and training

4. Summary of Implementation Costs for the EU Nitrates Directive • For Scenario where numerous discrete NVZ are designated in Romania and modern technologies are applied • Implementation costs include: • Investment costs of 166,669,900 Є • Annual operating costs of 15,331,600 Є • Management costs of 14,100,000 Є • Training costs of 830,000 Є

5. Why Calarasi County Was Selected • Location of the World Bank Agricultural Pollution Control Project • Two NVZ designated in Calarasi County • Nutrient loadings to Danube – a key challenge for addressing water quality in the Black Sea

6. Major Components of the Project • Characterization of soil and water quality; nitrate sources and impacts in Calarasi County; establish norms and methodologies in conducting Water and Soil Quality field testing; and set up a monitoring plan • Review of the Romanian Code of Good Agricultural Practices (CGAP) • Design a CGAP for small farms and set up a Training Programme of Assistance • Development of the Action Programme for Calarasi County • Roll-Out and dissemination of project results to the national level

7. Characterization Report • The project team has compiled an inventory of nitrate pollution sources, conducted preliminary soil and water quality testing, and assembled additional environmental and socio-economic information for Calarasi County • This data collection and analysis work served two purposes: • Establish a Data Collection and Interpretation Model to be used in developing nitrate reduction action programmes in other Romanian counties • Provide inputs for the Calarasi County Characterization Report • The Characterization Report has been completed – a synthesis of the contents of this report will be incorporated into the description of the problem in the Calarasi Action Programme

8. Vulnerable Zones for Nitrate Pollution from Agricultural Sourcesin Romania BLUE - Potentially vulnerable zones due to runoff into surface water PINK - Potentially vulnerable zones (medium risk) due to percolation into aquifers RED- Vulnerable zones (high risk) due to percolation into aquifers

9. Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in Calarasi County

12. Code of Good Agricultural Practices (CGAP) • Provides recommendations of agricultural practices and technologies to manage soil and water resources and reduce pollution due to nutrients and pesticides • Romanian “Code” responds to requirement in EU Nitrates Directive and has been published with financial assistance from the World Bank • APRA requested to review Romanian CGAP and provide assistance in revising the code and developing CGAP for small farms • Proposals will be submitted for revising the CGAP will be presented to Ministry in October

13. Why a CGAP for small farmers • Large number of small farms in Romania • Most small farms undercapitalized • Many of the recommended practices in current CGAP are focused on large farms that can exploit economies of scale • Many of the nitrate-related illnesses are observed on small farms with inadequate separation of water supplies from household sanitation facilities and livestock operations

14. Elaboration of a Local Action Programme • Required for all the NVZs • Local Action Programmes will be approved by a local commission with implementation responsibilities shared by river basin authorities and county-level administration • Local Action Programmes: • Should be established for a period of up to 4 years • Require mandatory adoption of CGAP measures related to animal wastes and fertilizer application rates and timing

15. Local Action Programme for Calarasi County • APRA is assisting in the development of a Local Action Programme for Calarasi county: • To address nitrate problems in the NVZs of the County • Serve as a model for other Romanian counties • Action Programme structure and outline have been prepared developed • An interactive workshop will be organized in Octoberto develop recommended actions

16. Training Program • Help establish a Training Center in Calarasi • Develop a Training Program and conduct Training of Local Trainers to ensure continuous assistance and guidance in applying the CGAP and implementing the Local Action Programme

17. Roll-out and Dissemination of Project Results • Roll-out Guide - a report summarizing the various components of the project tasks, the lessons learned in conducting these tasks, and recommendations for replicating or extending the analyses at the national level, for other counties, or at the river basin or regional level • Final Workshop- to disseminate the project resultsand recommend country-wide options for protection of waters against nitrate and phosphate pollution from agricultural sources

18. Some Preliminary Findings • There are a substantial number of data gaps that limit the use of analytical models to predict changes in water quality as a result of mitigation efforts: • Soil surveys have not been conducted since 1980s • Inadequate ground and surface water quality data in areas of NVZs • Romanian agricultural activity at significantly lower levels than in past: • Livestock operations curtailed • Former State Farms divided into smaller economic units • Irrigation systems have not been maintained and would be too expensive for many farmers • Action Programmes will need to account for likely renewed agricultural activity in the future