cultivated hectares, contributing to keep among the lowest figures at regional level the percentage of inactive or closed businesses. This data is significant in the ecological-environmental context as well, as 80% of these areas is cultivated with vegetables in rotation with cereals, contributing in this way to prevent the erosion and the soil conservation. In terms of “short supply chains”, those of the vegetables correlated to the zootechnical sector, because of the re-use for feeding livestock, significantly concerns approximately 70% of local companies involved in the project. Among the others we find important indicators, in term of employees, such as the involvement of rainfed melon producers. The number of these producers, with the support of the technical assistance and some adjustments in the cultivation experience, increased from 135 to 240, and the related surfaces from 130 beyond to 200 hectares, highlighting an improved profitability of the chain and reduced depopulation of the rural areas. The results achieved on the methodological level by the experience addressed to the schools are also important. The experience born with the “Saperi di campagna” programme, from which started the “Satu po imparai” project of environmental
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education developed in collaboration between the LAORE Agency and the Department of Public Education of the Province. Correlated with the “basket”, this initiative, was aimed at recovering, preserving and increasing the value of the heritage of knowledge and traditional agricultural and food productions that characterizes a territory with a strong rural inclination, and creating and developing a trail in the “teaching farms”, integrating and improving the quality of the services offered, with a view to strengthen the multifunctional role of the farms. The project involved the awareness and active participation of 13 schools and the creation of 24 informative and educational courses around the typical local agricultural and food products included in the 18 product charts that form “the basket”. The didactic trails in the farms have involved about 1200 pupils in the kindergarten, elementary and secondary schools highlighting an important impact on the territory for the economic growth. Through a popular virtuous methodological and informative course the association “educational farms of the Medio Campidano” was formed, involving 18 farms that are implementing the business diversification and the public bodies, the schools with various associations interested in the rediscovery, environmental preservation, food education and in the multifunctional development of rural territory and its traditions.