Romania’s semi-subsistence farmers get help to access funds & improve livelihoods
More than 4.2 million agricultural farms are in operation across Romania with almost 80% of them classified as subsistence farms, using more than half of the obtained production for their own consumption, according to the Romanian Commercial Bank report, “Romania- agriculture between potential and reality”.
Farmers typically can’t take advantage of market opportunities in what concerns the commercialization of their own production and many stand to be left behind. “The greenhouses - a source of food and income” project is therefore particularly crucial to the viability of these farms and the growth of larger farms.
The information sessions about agriculture organised by World Vision, twice a month in Cobadin village and monthly in Corbu village, are vital for the semi-subsistence farmers from both rural areas because the small farms don’t have the capacity to sell vegetables or livestock in modern networks of retail trade without being constantly informed about financing opportunities or legislative changes.
The majority of farmers don’t have time to study agricultural legislation, to read the news or to search for opportunities available to them by the European Union or Romanian Government. Many don’t have access to a computer or the Internet and a significant portion of farmers don’t have the capacity to meet the new European norms applicable to Romanian agriculture.
“If World Vision and Constanta County Office for Agricultural Advisory (OJCA) don’t help these people, they won’t have any chance”, states the OJCA’s Cobadin agricultural counselor Stefan Ursu, a trusted partner of the organisation.
Through the information sessions, farmers from Cobadin, a commune located 40 km from Constanta city, discovered that nearly 480,000 Euros (80% EU funds and 20% Romanian Government funds) are available to support semi- subsistence farms (with at least nine hectares), between 2009 and 2013. The OJCA’s agricultural counselor Stefan Ursu explained to the farmers how they can access 1,500 Euros each year for five years, in order to increase production and help their subsistence farms to become economically viable. Funds received for the first three years are non-repayable.
If World Vision and Constanta County Office for Agricultural Advisory (OJCA) don’t help these people, they won’t have any chance. Members of an agricultural association and those who are authorised to sell products are in a better position to access funds – which is why World Vision is helping farmers to form associations and hold the necessary certification.
According to Petrea Alina, World Vision’s Agricultural Project Coordinator in Constanta County, five vegetable growers from Cobadin village have submitted their applications and already expect to receive the funding. Another three applied to obtain funds in order to develop their small apiarian (beekeeping) businesses and others are working on their applications. In Corbu, six farmers are currently applying for the 141 Measure funding.
Mihai Teja, a farmer with a 12-year-old son first heard about the 141 measure through World Vision’s session and has already received funding. “I have 9 hectares of arable land and I intend to increase it to 20 hectares, renting the rest of the land or buying it. When I have more than 20 hectares, the profit will be significant and I will be able to rotate the crops. In time, I want to reach 50 hectares”, said Mihai who was the first farmer from Cobadin to access these funds and has since helped another five farmers to apply for funding.
Liviu Bafane, 32, is another farmer from Cobadin village, who has 68 bee families and a long tradition in beekeeping. “I will buy some modern apiarian equipment and a vehicle to transport the bees; even if the money is not very much, I intend to have 105 bee families in the next three years”.
Through the project, “The greenhouses, a source of food and income” World Vision is offering farmers with even smaller subsistence farms in the two rural areas the chance to attend vegetable planting courses, a course about how farmers should work with clients, and helpful information on new agricultural methods, etc. Greenhouses have also been donated to low-income families where just one parent is working.
The Romanian government’s agricultural 141 Measure was introduced to help semi-subsistence farms to supply the local markets, resuscitate an under-developed agricultural sector and to help small farms to contribute to the national economy.
Farmers typically can’t take advantage of market opportunities in what concerns the commercialization of their own production and many stand to be left behind. “The greenhouses - a source of food and income” project is therefore particularly crucial to the viability of these farms and the growth of larger farms.
The information sessions about agriculture organised by World Vision, twice a month in Cobadin village and monthly in Corbu village, are vital for the semi-subsistence farmers from both rural areas because the small farms don’t have the capacity to sell vegetables or livestock in modern networks of retail trade without being constantly informed about financing opportunities or legislative changes.
The majority of farmers don’t have time to study agricultural legislation, to read the news or to search for opportunities available to them by the European Union or Romanian Government. Many don’t have access to a computer or the Internet and a significant portion of farmers don’t have the capacity to meet the new European norms applicable to Romanian agriculture.
“If World Vision and Constanta County Office for Agricultural Advisory (OJCA) don’t help these people, they won’t have any chance”, states the OJCA’s Cobadin agricultural counselor Stefan Ursu, a trusted partner of the organisation.
Through the information sessions, farmers from Cobadin, a commune located 40 km from Constanta city, discovered that nearly 480,000 Euros (80% EU funds and 20% Romanian Government funds) are available to support semi- subsistence farms (with at least nine hectares), between 2009 and 2013. The OJCA’s agricultural counselor Stefan Ursu explained to the farmers how they can access 1,500 Euros each year for five years, in order to increase production and help their subsistence farms to become economically viable. Funds received for the first three years are non-repayable.
If World Vision and Constanta County Office for Agricultural Advisory (OJCA) don’t help these people, they won’t have any chance. Members of an agricultural association and those who are authorised to sell products are in a better position to access funds – which is why World Vision is helping farmers to form associations and hold the necessary certification.
According to Petrea Alina, World Vision’s Agricultural Project Coordinator in Constanta County, five vegetable growers from Cobadin village have submitted their applications and already expect to receive the funding. Another three applied to obtain funds in order to develop their small apiarian (beekeeping) businesses and others are working on their applications. In Corbu, six farmers are currently applying for the 141 Measure funding.
Mihai Teja, a farmer with a 12-year-old son first heard about the 141 measure through World Vision’s session and has already received funding. “I have 9 hectares of arable land and I intend to increase it to 20 hectares, renting the rest of the land or buying it. When I have more than 20 hectares, the profit will be significant and I will be able to rotate the crops. In time, I want to reach 50 hectares”, said Mihai who was the first farmer from Cobadin to access these funds and has since helped another five farmers to apply for funding.
Liviu Bafane, 32, is another farmer from Cobadin village, who has 68 bee families and a long tradition in beekeeping. “I will buy some modern apiarian equipment and a vehicle to transport the bees; even if the money is not very much, I intend to have 105 bee families in the next three years”.
Through the project, “The greenhouses, a source of food and income” World Vision is offering farmers with even smaller subsistence farms in the two rural areas the chance to attend vegetable planting courses, a course about how farmers should work with clients, and helpful information on new agricultural methods, etc. Greenhouses have also been donated to low-income families where just one parent is working.
The Romanian government’s agricultural 141 Measure was introduced to help semi-subsistence farms to supply the local markets, resuscitate an under-developed agricultural sector and to help small farms to contribute to the national economy.
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