Order of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources on the Establishment of Agricultural Training and Advisory Services (ATAS) (No. 82 of 1997).

The Minister orders to establish Agricultural Training and Advisory Services (ATAS) with respect to a Sheep Development Project at the Directorate of Livestock and approves the Charter of Agricultural Training and Advisory Services. ATAS is a Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources dependent enterprise under the Directorate of Livestock and is responsible for implementation of Sheep-Breeding Project. ATAS, jointly with the Directorate of Livestock, shall provide the implementation of Sub-Component of Sheep-Breeding Project Agricultural Training and Advisory Services. The special target of the Sub-Component of the Sheep-Breeding Extension Services shall be the increase of productivity in livestock-breeding and preparation for market system on the farm-level by providing support to private livestock producers as well as organization of such a structure that ensures efficiency of services, taking into consideration a potential role of private sector in this field. Functions of ATAS are described in section 3 of the Charter. They include training and other actions of distribution of knowledge to farmers.