------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Organic Agriculture and Agro Tourism

(14 days, approx. 12 participants)

Day 1, Arrival, meeting the program provider, preliminary discussion on the program. Accomodation in Budapest

Day 2, Training: Meeting with the representatives of a) Association of Ecological Production, b) Community Agrimarketing Center of the Ministry of Agriculture, c) Ökocentrum Ltd. and d) Federation of Rural Tourism

Lectures:

• Ecological production in Hungary (history and future prospects)
• Regulation of Ecological production
• Biodynamic production
• Introduction of the Information Centre for the Federation of Rural Tourism

Travel to North Hungary, Accommodation: Kozard, AgroTourism facilities

Day 3 - 4, Presentation in Agroservice Training Centre, Kozard:

Guided Farm Visit: village development projects, ecological mangalica (swine) farm, and ecological fruit plantations. Fruit tasting. Short introduction to the Agro tourism activities in the South-East Cserhát region. Travel to Hollóko to see Agro Tourism in the region. Traditional welcoming, introduction of special traditional handicraft work, short walk in the historic village. Hollóko is a traditional Hungarian Village, it is part of the World Heritage. Visit a Medicinal Plant Farm in the region (field visit and storage, packing facilities). Accomodation in Kozárd in AgroTourism facilities.

Day 5, Travel to Gödöllo. Training at the Szent István University. Lectures:

• Activities of the University with special emphasis on rural development, possibilities of co-operation
• Ecological production and quality control

Travel to Veresegyháza. Visit Ovofarm Ltd. – ecological laying hens and egg production. Guided site visit and short introduction of the company. 

Day 6, Travel to the Lake Balaton area, Balatonboglár. Visit Tóth László - Organic fruit (grape) and wine producer. Farm visit ( organic horticultural production), fruit and wine tasting. Travel to Igal. Presentation on the rural tourism activities in Igal. Bathing in the balneary. Accomodation in the hunting-lodge of the Kaposvár Agricultural University

Day 7, Travel to Hedrehely. Visit Ökördi Zsuzsa - an ecological sheep breeder and cheese producer

• Farm visit and cheese tasting, presentation on technology of ecological cheese production

Travel to Tamási. Visit the Tamási Farm - a laboratory for preparing herb tea, herb lotions etc. Visit the ecological herb producing field. Travel to Budapest

Day 8, Travel to Hortobágy National Park (East Hungary). Welcoming with traditional Hungarian specialities (special Hungarian drink and cake). Visit the Sheperd Museum. Presentation of the native Hungarian livestock breeds, especially the Hungarian Grey cattle, racka, cikta and cigaja sheep, native sheep dogs, horses and its herd as well. A coach tour is also available depending on the weather conditions. Travel to Kunhegyes

Day 9, Training on Agro Tourism: Lectures: Information of rural development activities in Pusztamérges and in the small region of the village. Importance of secondary school (specialised in agro tourism) education in the region. Visit the village and the village houses in Pusztamérges. Travel to Jásszentlászló

Day 10, Training on Agro Tourism:  Presentation on the activities of the „Foundation for Human Wellness". (working facilities for unemployed people e.g. handicrafts, bio production, etc). Visit the Eördögh farm: getting aquainted with the ecological production at the farm, baking a cake in an open-air stove

Travel to Bugac puszta – visit the horse herd. Travel to Fülöpjakab

Day 11, Visit Fülöpjakab Farm – organic horticultural production. Short introduction of the village, and its activities on Agro Tourism. Visit the organic horticultural farm. Travel to Kerekegyháza. Visit Homokhátság Ltd. – organic crop and horticultural production. Short introduction of the company and its activities. Field visit. Travel to Kecskemét

Day 12, Travel to Fajsz. Visit Berta – Bio Ltd. – integrator of organic paprika, melissa, spinach etc. Production and processing. Introduction of the company, site visit at the processing factory and visit the melissa and paprika plantation. Travel to Budapest

Day 13, Travel to Lábatlan. Visit Piszke Bakery – production of organic bred and cookies. Presentation on the activities of the company and on the thechnology of organic bred production. Guided site visit at the bakery. Travel to Budapest. Debriefing: Synthesis of the information gathered through the study tour.