Romanian farmers on their way to better future
“I planted one tomato and one cabbage and took good care of it and watered it. And when I ate my tomato it was the sweetest one that I’ve ever had”, says six-year-old Georgiana, on the house doorstep with a big smile on her face. The child proudly points to the place where she planted her first tomato.
“I would like to see my daughters run a big farm one day,” says Cristi with eyes sparkling.
“I wish to invest in a bigger farm that can bring a decent life to my children. The only opportunity for big dreams coming true is European Union (EU) funds,” says Cristi, explaining his main concern.
I wish to invest in a bigger farm that can bring a decent life to my children Thirty billion euros EU funds are available for Romania’s development. Cristi is one example of most other farmers in Romania who are unable to take advantage of the funding because of the enormous struggle needed to write project proposals, tackle beauracracy and take risks.
Village Mayor Fanica Sacaleanu, who has also failed in an application to secure a European grant for the whole community, says: “If the bureaucracy of the EU funds is so discouraging for us, the local authorities, imagine how it is for the farmers in the village”.
Cristi is typical of Romanian farmers in Scanteia, a village situated 450 km from the capital Bucharest. Living in the poorest regions of the country they struggle to find a way to develop small farms into long-term investments.
In the harsh reality of Scanteia at the beginning of winter the small houses are barely visible in the dense fog covering the village. Cristi and his wife ‘Alina’ are striving to overcome challenging times with faith and love.
Seven years ago Cristi and his wife Alina were starting a new life together with “nothing to eat”, they explain.
“We knew each other from childhood. When we got married we had no bread to eat. But God gave us strength to go ahead with our life step by step to where we are now,” says Alina, gazing at her husband lovingly.
Their small house is clean and well cared for, even with two playful girls around.
Georgiana and Naomi have their own room full of toys. There is a strong connection between the two sisters and they happily play together.
“My favourite toy is this blue unicorn,” says Georgiana. Naomi replies cheerfully: “Mine is the big bear!”
Raised without their fathers, both Alina and Cristi learned how to give a lot love and security to their wonderful daughters, Georgiana and Naomi.
This young couple, who have tasted such poverty, found courage and passion to start building their future.
“I love the land and I cannot live without the land,” says Cristi, explaining his motivation to initiate a small business with vegetables four years ago.
“Our faith gives us strength to be patient. We pray for each plant that we seed and for each thing that we do,” says Cristi.
Our faith gives us strength to be patient. We pray for each plant that we seed and for each thing that we do They found initial support in a farming association that partially funded them to build a 100 square metre plastic-covered greenhouse. A year later, they invested in a second greenhouse of 600 square meters. They planted tomatoes, cucumbers, beans and yellow peppers in it.
During the summer these two hard-working people wake up at four o’clock in the morning and work in the greenhouse until 10 o’clock. In the evening they work for another four hours.
Most of their daily activities take place in the greenhouse. Alina also cleans, cooks, takes care of her daughters and attends her sick mother-in-law in the small house next door.
After investing in the two greenhouses they were hardly able to save any money to expand the business, which is their biggest concern.
Their only permanent income consists of the 120 euros they receive each month for supporting Gheorghe’s 70-years-old mother and child allowances of approximately 20 euros. The rest comes from selling vegetables or traditional products, but that is not stable income. The total income they can earn doesn’t come close to covering the cost of utilities, clothes and food.
“We faced many problems but we did not give up. We know how it feels like to be poor,” says Cristi.
He aims to have a glass greenhouse covering 1000 square meters. The EU provides grants for farmers, but the couple worries about how to get the funding.
“If we have a glass greenhouse we will be able to produce different kinds of plants that can be sold throughout the year. And that way we would have constant income and a profit for savings and new investments,” says Cristi.
Alina agrees: “The hardest period is from December until April. It is the time when we need money as much as possible. We have to invest in the greenhouse, to buy seeds, and to prepare the land for the next season. We worry sometimes but we know God has a plan for us.”
Alina would like to have a special kitchen equipped for cooking her traditional potted vegetable salad, ‘a salad that everybody likes’. “When I go to the market I sell all the salad I bring,” she says happily.
Alina recently attended World Vision training that provided her with the official certificate she needs to make the salad to the standards that the new European legislation requires before it can be sold. World Vision ran the course to support farmers who are struggling to meet these new and strict regulations.
Another innovation, the farmer’s market, gives Cristi and other local farmers a regular chance to promote local produce and create a Romanian ‘brand’.
“World Vision suggested that the local authorities start this initiative of a fresh produce market in Iasi city. They embraced the idea and supported the opening of two markets, giving farmers a much-needed opportunity to sell their products at key locations without paying fees on the goods they sold”, says Octav Filip, World Vision’s Zone Manager for Iasi.
Rozica Tita, World Vision project coordinator, adds, “We are also helping farmers by providing information about EU funds and linking them with the government’s agriculture agency.
“So far, we provided training to 28 farmers in Scanteia village. Ten of them have presented their traditional products at the farmers market.”
When I grow up, I want to grow many vegetables All products sold at the market are without additives and are hand-made as pies, patisseries, jam, honey and milk products. Traditional values are appreciated by customers.
“The prices of the products are insignificant compared to their quality”, says one of the customers at the market.
The market builds the confidence of Romanian farmers, assuring them that their work and produce has a value that merits EU funding.
Every successful day at the market increases Cristi’s hope that Naomi and Georgiana will have a better life.
The parents believe in their dream coming true when they hear their daughter Georgiana saying, “When I grow up, I want to grow many vegetables”.
“I would like to see my daughters run a big farm one day,” says Cristi with eyes sparkling.
“I wish to invest in a bigger farm that can bring a decent life to my children. The only opportunity for big dreams coming true is European Union (EU) funds,” says Cristi, explaining his main concern.
I wish to invest in a bigger farm that can bring a decent life to my children Thirty billion euros EU funds are available for Romania’s development. Cristi is one example of most other farmers in Romania who are unable to take advantage of the funding because of the enormous struggle needed to write project proposals, tackle beauracracy and take risks.
Village Mayor Fanica Sacaleanu, who has also failed in an application to secure a European grant for the whole community, says: “If the bureaucracy of the EU funds is so discouraging for us, the local authorities, imagine how it is for the farmers in the village”.
Cristi is typical of Romanian farmers in Scanteia, a village situated 450 km from the capital Bucharest. Living in the poorest regions of the country they struggle to find a way to develop small farms into long-term investments.
In the harsh reality of Scanteia at the beginning of winter the small houses are barely visible in the dense fog covering the village. Cristi and his wife ‘Alina’ are striving to overcome challenging times with faith and love.
Seven years ago Cristi and his wife Alina were starting a new life together with “nothing to eat”, they explain.
“We knew each other from childhood. When we got married we had no bread to eat. But God gave us strength to go ahead with our life step by step to where we are now,” says Alina, gazing at her husband lovingly.
Their small house is clean and well cared for, even with two playful girls around.
Georgiana and Naomi have their own room full of toys. There is a strong connection between the two sisters and they happily play together.
“My favourite toy is this blue unicorn,” says Georgiana. Naomi replies cheerfully: “Mine is the big bear!”
Raised without their fathers, both Alina and Cristi learned how to give a lot love and security to their wonderful daughters, Georgiana and Naomi.
This young couple, who have tasted such poverty, found courage and passion to start building their future.
“I love the land and I cannot live without the land,” says Cristi, explaining his motivation to initiate a small business with vegetables four years ago.
“Our faith gives us strength to be patient. We pray for each plant that we seed and for each thing that we do,” says Cristi.
Our faith gives us strength to be patient. We pray for each plant that we seed and for each thing that we do They found initial support in a farming association that partially funded them to build a 100 square metre plastic-covered greenhouse. A year later, they invested in a second greenhouse of 600 square meters. They planted tomatoes, cucumbers, beans and yellow peppers in it.
During the summer these two hard-working people wake up at four o’clock in the morning and work in the greenhouse until 10 o’clock. In the evening they work for another four hours.
Most of their daily activities take place in the greenhouse. Alina also cleans, cooks, takes care of her daughters and attends her sick mother-in-law in the small house next door.
After investing in the two greenhouses they were hardly able to save any money to expand the business, which is their biggest concern.
Their only permanent income consists of the 120 euros they receive each month for supporting Gheorghe’s 70-years-old mother and child allowances of approximately 20 euros. The rest comes from selling vegetables or traditional products, but that is not stable income. The total income they can earn doesn’t come close to covering the cost of utilities, clothes and food.
“We faced many problems but we did not give up. We know how it feels like to be poor,” says Cristi.
He aims to have a glass greenhouse covering 1000 square meters. The EU provides grants for farmers, but the couple worries about how to get the funding.
“If we have a glass greenhouse we will be able to produce different kinds of plants that can be sold throughout the year. And that way we would have constant income and a profit for savings and new investments,” says Cristi.
Alina agrees: “The hardest period is from December until April. It is the time when we need money as much as possible. We have to invest in the greenhouse, to buy seeds, and to prepare the land for the next season. We worry sometimes but we know God has a plan for us.”
Alina would like to have a special kitchen equipped for cooking her traditional potted vegetable salad, ‘a salad that everybody likes’. “When I go to the market I sell all the salad I bring,” she says happily.
Alina recently attended World Vision training that provided her with the official certificate she needs to make the salad to the standards that the new European legislation requires before it can be sold. World Vision ran the course to support farmers who are struggling to meet these new and strict regulations.
Another innovation, the farmer’s market, gives Cristi and other local farmers a regular chance to promote local produce and create a Romanian ‘brand’.
“World Vision suggested that the local authorities start this initiative of a fresh produce market in Iasi city. They embraced the idea and supported the opening of two markets, giving farmers a much-needed opportunity to sell their products at key locations without paying fees on the goods they sold”, says Octav Filip, World Vision’s Zone Manager for Iasi.
Rozica Tita, World Vision project coordinator, adds, “We are also helping farmers by providing information about EU funds and linking them with the government’s agriculture agency.
“So far, we provided training to 28 farmers in Scanteia village. Ten of them have presented their traditional products at the farmers market.”
When I grow up, I want to grow many vegetables All products sold at the market are without additives and are hand-made as pies, patisseries, jam, honey and milk products. Traditional values are appreciated by customers.
“The prices of the products are insignificant compared to their quality”, says one of the customers at the market.
The market builds the confidence of Romanian farmers, assuring them that their work and produce has a value that merits EU funding.
Every successful day at the market increases Cristi’s hope that Naomi and Georgiana will have a better life.
The parents believe in their dream coming true when they hear their daughter Georgiana saying, “When I grow up, I want to grow many vegetables”.
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