RomâniaRural Ro Rumarnail a ă NATIONALReţeaua NETWORK Naţiona lă O OFdFe R RURALDUeRzvAoltareL D DEVELOPMENTEVE LRuOPrMa lăENT

NIssueumăr 12ul 3 YAenaurlIII,ID, Seecpetmembebrri2e02104 14

PhD. Engineer Ioan Cotârlea: Afforestation of the degraded lands - solution in order to reach the EU average of forest coverage

Forestry in the National Rural Development Programme (NRDP) 2014 -2020

Christmas in Bucovina

The globes from Șelimbăr got to the White House

The Paulownia plantations appear in Romania too

Sâmburești Domains Reconversion with European funds

RĂDĂCINI DE ŢARĂ EUROPEANĂ Rural Romania – No. 12

REGIONAL OFFICES Supporting Unit of the National Rural Development Network CONTENTS BRĂILA 282, Independenţei Blvd., 1st floor, postal code 810124, [email protected] EDITORIAL ...... 3 Tel.: 0339 732 009, Facsimile: 0339 732 016

CRAIOVA INTERVIEW

19, Libertăţii St., postal code 200421, Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture, room L-311, 2nd floor, PhD. Engineer Ioan Cotârlea: Afforestation of degraded lands – solution to reach the EU average of forest coverage ...... 4 [email protected] Tel.: 0251 460 377, Facsimile: 0251 423 651 RURAL DEVELOPMENT ZALĂU Forestry in the National Rural Development Programme (NRDP) 2014-2020 ...... 6 49, Kossuth Lajos St., postal code 450010, [email protected] Non-reimbursable financing for a wood processing company in Mureș ...... 8

Tel.: 0360 404 056, Facsimile: 0360 404 158 Responsibility and professionalism: Afforestation project of S.C. Robinia S.R.L. in Lugoj ...... 10

The Christmas trees “made in” Sălaj – looked for by supermarkets, but also on the external market ...... 12 TÂRGU MUREȘ „Absolute Carpathian”: Ecotourism on the track of wolves and lynxes ...... 14 60, Mihai Eminescu St., postal code 540331, [email protected] Tel.: 0365 430 349, Facsimile: 0365 430 351 WWF (World Wildlife Fund) - Romania fights for the preservation and administration of the forests ...... 16

Paulownia plantations: “the intelligent tree”, between theory and practice ...... 18

IAŞI Pig raising history in Romania ...... 20 Ciric Entertainment Area – Ciric Entertainment Complex, postal code 700064, Calendar of our villages ...... 22 [email protected] Tel.: 0332 881 281, Facsimile: 0332 881 282 Decorated Christmas in Bucovina ...... 24 Technical plants in Romania – tradition and challenges ...... 28 TIMIŞOARA 53, Take Ionescu Blvd., 2nd floor, office 26, postal code 300074, [email protected] PEOPLE Tel.: 0356 460 982, Facsimile: 0356 460 983 Engineer Iosif Kiss, known consultant specialized in the establishment of walnut orchards in Romania ...... 30 TÂRGOVIŞTE Maria Zapca from Săpânţa, the pride of the popular craftsmen’s fairs ...... 32 7A, Vărzaru Armaşu St., postal code 130169, [email protected] Useful and enjoyable: mushroom and berry collection ...... 34

Tel.: 0345 100 605, Facsimile: 0345 100 025 Ion Art Glass – the workshop in Șelimbăr where glass miraculously turns into jewellery ...... 36

BUCUREŞTI EXPERIENCES 39-41, Nicolae Filipescu St., 6th floor, 2nd District, postal code 020961, [email protected] My farm: Reconversion of the plantation, from Vintilă Brătianu, to Valvis Holding ...... 38 Tel.: 0316 900 214, Facsimile: 0316 900 215 My business: Olt-specific ambition: With European money, CEGIM produces long-lasting furniture for the Romanians,

but also for the export ...... 40

The text of this publication is for informative purpose only and does not entail legal responsibility. My community: Entrepreneurial imitative supporting the plantation of oaks and acacias ...... 42

Additional information on MADR and USR can be accessed on the Internet: www.madr.ro, www.rndr.ro LEADER TO DATE

USR, Department of Publications, December 2014 “Orizonturi 2012” Local Action Group: Tradition and modernity in the Danube Alluvial Plain ...... 44 ISSN 2284-8665 Amaradia-Jiu Local Action Group: Accent on the support of the young farmers, small agricultural workers and the ISSN-L 2284-8665 modernization of the villages ...... 46 © RNDR, 2014

The reproduction of the texts of this publication is authorized provided that the source is mentioned. NEWS from the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)...... 48 Printed in Romania.

Copyright for photographs: GAL Amaradia Jiu, GAL “Orizonturi 2012”, Liviu Brădean, Alin Prunean, CEGIM, THE MEMBERS OF THE NRDN INTRODUCE THEMSELVES ...... 50 Valvis Holding, Ioan Tămâian, paulowniadevelopment.ro, WWF-România, Robinia SRL România ru rală – Nr. 5

Editorial

Right before the Holidays

Right before the Holidays, we have chosen as a theme the forests of Romania, a real wealth for our health and for the health of the communities we life in. And we wonder: what should Romania do to grow again the forests cut over the last 25 years? In order to show that we are a sufficiently mature society, we have to approach this topic that concerns us all with maximum responsibility. The forests protect our villages from floods and landslides, protect our towns and cities from dust; they give us oxygen; they delight our eyesight and charge our batteries when we go on hikes; species of animals which can no longer be encountered in the wild in many other European states live here. And there are so many other benefits…

In the pages of the magazine, you will be able to read about a few businesses in the wood processing field, which developed inclusively with European support. S.C. CEGIM S.R.L, in Bujoreni, Vâlcea, produces furniture, providing 50 places of employment to the inhabitants in the area, and S.C. Andrea Forest S.R.L. in Saschiz collects and processes wood, with care for the environment. S.C. Robinia presents information about the originating from Maramureș, S.R.L. in Lugoj is one of the few Paulownia plantations, a tree with a dedicated to the revitalization of beneficiaries of the projects which fast growing rate, starting to become Mangaliţa pig breed, as well as about envisaged the afforestation of the known in our country too; Maria the reconversion of Sâmburești degraded agricultural lands; having as Zapca, skillful popular creator from Domains, with European funds. main activity, the production of forest Săpânţa, speaks about her work and seedlings, fruits trees and ornamental about the pride of wearing her You will also be able to travel in the plants, the firm accomplished a traditional folk costume. time full of significance of the 34,000 Euro project, whereby it calendar of our villages in times of And because it is the month of afforested 5 hectares. holidays. Christmas, we invite you to Bucovina, We also present you the stories of to discover its rural traditions, the We wish you a “Merry Christmas!”. people passionate for what they do: people and villages in times of May we all have an abundant year, Simona Munteanu, from “Absolute celebration. Remaining in the spirit of Carpathian”, runs a small ecotourism Christmas, we also present you with a plenty of health and lots of joys! business, which takes the courageous rural Christmas tree business, opened Happy New Year, Romania! people on the tracks of wolves, lynxes by an entrepreneur in Sălaj, as well as and bears; Iosif Kiss, known specialist a glassware workshop in Șelimbăr, Viviana Vasile , Team Leader of the in the field of walnut plantations creating unique globes, some of which project entitled “Establishment and offers advice to those interested in even got to the White House. We also Support of the National Rural such a business; Mihai Georoceanu find out about Ioan Tătăran, Development Network”

2 3 Rural Romania – No. 12

Interview Another problem is that technical assistance for work of be bought from the private owners retrocessions were not correctly enhancement and care of young and afforested by the State. PhD. Engineer Ioan Cotârlea, President of the Romanian made to the real owners. If the Real stands. Instructions are given by NFPE, Mountainous Forum, Sibiu Branch: Estate Register Excerpts and the with all sorts of benefits for the agricultural registers up to 1947 are The afforestation of the owners (they get wood mass, they Afforestation of the degraded lands – solution to reach the UE not very carefully verified, when agricultural lands is discussed. do not pay tax for the assigned area, average of forest coverage forests could be bought, and if the Where and when is such a etc.), but the land owners do not person making the retrocession is measure required? agree. We, in Sibiu, did not manage not a specialist, lands can be to convince them to give the land in Romania had 7,100,000 hectares of returned both to the seller and the PhD. Engineer Ioan Cotârlea: concession or lease under these forest after World War I, following buyer at that time. For afforestation, we must use the circumstances. The solution would which this area continued to agricultural lands with erosions, be for the State to buy and forest. decrease. The forest fund is not in A lot of people say that wood is degraded, where there are ruptures There are still old forest curtains the best conditions nowadays stolen. The slopes that we see of the earth crust. We still need two that the forestries cared for, but too either. With our 27% percentage, we cleared, cut at the ground level, million hectares of forest to reach few have remained. In Bărăgan all are below the European average, those are not stolen by carts. They 33% forest coverage, which is why the forest curtains were cut after the having 32% degree of forest are cut down by specialized the degraded lands should be collectivization and nothing has coverage. Sweden has the highest economic agents and forest owners. afforested. I invite you to see Copșa been planted back. There are rate, with a forest fund representing Mică, to see the sloped afforested in projects, studies, documents, only 50% of the area, then Finland, Which are the measures that 1997. I worked with the Institute of the land problem is difficult. whereas we are on the 11th position should be introduced in order Forest Research and Development, in Europe in terms of the afforested to help the small forest I brought seeding material, after What can you tell us about the area. We have a good position in owners? studies of stationary mapping and certification and the terms of wood mass volume per foot adjustment of certain species to the responsible management of of the total forests (these 6.5 million PhD. Engineer Ioan Cotârlea : sulphur dioxide and other industrial the forests? What areas have hectares occupy a volume of over 1 the small forest owners must cut toxic emissions had been made been certified and which are billion cubic meters), but we used to just as much as they have annual several years before. Copșa Mică is the benefits of the occupy the 5th position in Europe. increase, not more. The legislation currently green; it is my pride and certification? Only Sweden, Finland, France and stipulates that all the forest owners the pride of Sibiu inhabitants. There Germany were ahead of us. must sign an administration are still some points left to be PhD. Engineer Ioan Cotârlea: contract with forestry, but in reality corrected, where there are ruptures The sustainable management of the There are reasons for worries because we have to get to 33%, to it is not always done this way. with slopes of 70-80 degrees, where forest fund is proved by the recover the 6 percentages. Illegal we are trying to overgrow grass as certification. Several million clearing has been done, slopes being All the forests in Romania must we speak. I planted over 5,000 hectares of forest have been uncovered, this generating comply with the forest regime hectares of degraded lands; I certified up to the present date. By landslides, affecting the climate and representing the overall technical increased the forest fund by 5,000 this measure, we must align to the the environment, with a negative forest norms of development, hectares, by 2003. EU policy. The certification impact on the ecofund and the exploitation, security and guarantees the sustainable genofund. A great forester, Marin protection. 500,000 hectares of We see every year that the exploitation of the forests and Which is the situation of the third of the area of the country Drăcea, says: “the distribution of the forest in Romania are not in any motorways are closed when allows the access of the forest fund in Romania? Do we would have to be afforested. When forest means the death hereof”. forestry. When an owner cuts the there are blizzards. How can manufacturer on certain markets, have reasons to worry and if we speak about the fact that a third forest, he does not comply with the forest curtains be made, where only the certified wood can be so, why? of the area of Romania should be If the communal public property these norms. protecting the roads in case of traded and where the buyers are covered with forests, we also refer to forests have entered the Because they are bound to plant severe weather? Are there interested in purchasing products PhD. Engineer Ioan Cotârlea: plains and hills and mountains. In administration of Romsilva – within two years where they cut the plans in this respect, especially that affect neither the environment, The area of forests in Romania is of plains, there is much agricultural National Forest Public Entity forest, the small owners must be in order to protect the owners nor the communities in the vicinity 6,746,906 hectares, representing land, here we have only 10% of (NFPE), even if the town-hall helped with seeding material, with of agricultural lands to create of the forests. The FSC (Forest approximately 27% of the area of afforested area, and in the hill area, remained owners, the situation security (for the areas of up to 30 such areas? Stewardship Council) labeling is a the country. For the forest to the percentage is of 20%, whereas would have been currently different, hectares the security is free of guarantee in this respect. Moreover, accomplish all its roles, including the mountain has coverage of because, in general, NFPE manages charge, provided by the forestry, if PhD. Engineer Ioan Cotârlea: the trading price of the certified the ecological and protection one, a approximately 60%. forests well. the owner has a contract) and with The lands near the motorways must wood is better.

4 5 Rural Romania – No. 12

the backlash of the climate changes the agricultural activity are also Programme 2014-2020 contains the Rural Development remain open at the level of the forest supported by this measure. The wood measure entitled the “Afforestation and administrators, the National Rural product processing and the traditional Creation of Afforested Areas”, within Development Programme 2014-2020 craft activities benefit from which the action of afforestation of both comes with several concrete measures investments, the non-reimbursable agricultural areas and of non- for the sustainable management of the public support being of maximum agricultural ones will be supported, by forests in Romania. 200,000 Euro, over a period of three the creation of forest curtains. Forestry in the National Rural consecutive fiscal years. A first measure would be the All the public and private owners of investments in the modernization of the The encouragement of the transfer of agricultural and non-agricultural lands Development Programme 2014-2020 agricultural and forest infrastructure. knowledge represents another concrete and the associations thereof are going measure for innovation in agriculture to benefit from the new measure. Investments are also going to be made and forestry. in the actual afforestation and in the Two premiums will be granted: creation of afforested areas. Romania’s The agriculture- and forestry-related - the establishment premium (the increase of the area occupies by forests ecosystems will be remade, coverage of the expenses on the of the National Forest Fund to 35% is consolidated and preserved, within the elaboration of the technical forestry; envisaged over the next 7 years. This are measure of payments for areas that are afforestation project and of the practical 5. Preservation of the biological currently represents 27% and is confronted with natural constraints or costs of the plantation establishment diversity and of the environmental translated into 6,746,906 hectares. specific constraints. The active farmers work); value of the agricultural and forest in the area of the Carpathians are - the annual premium per hectare (the lands. The owners of forest lands within the envisaged, where the agricultural coverage of the expenses on the National Forest Fund will receive productivity is limited by the climate maintenance of the forest plantation Challenges of the Following annual payments for the undertaken and the relief. They will benefit from and the compensation of the Period forest-environmental commitments. annual compensatory payments, fixed agricultural income losses following the The minimal area must be of 100 amounts: 86 Euro per hectare. afforestation). The annual premium per A series of challenges already known at hectares, and the commitment is taken hectare is granted for a period of 12 the forestry level in Romania continues over five years. There are two payment Another important measure refers to years. to raise problems. packages: the increase and modernization of the - for the providing of the tranquility access routes on the forest fund area. The compensation of the agricultural The most severe aspects are related to areas (exclusively afforestation work, income loss is addressed only to the the climate changes negatively acting forest culture regeneration and Afforestation. Old measures and active farmers upon the application upon the environmental factors. The preservation work) the amount is of 25 new measures submission. The area proposed for afforestation and forest curtain creation Euro per hectare/year; afforestation under the form of forest process represents another great - for the use of harnesses upon the wood NThe necessity of the investments in curtains must be of minimum 0.5 challenge of the following period of collection from the thinning (it is afforestation was also comprised in the hectares, and the compact minimal time. The reduced network of forest addressed exclusively to those National Rural Development afforested area must be of 0.1 hectares. roads, of about 6 line meters per providing the tranquility areas) the Programme 2007-2013. It took the hectare, results in the maintenance of a amount is of 103 Euro per hectare/year. form of Measure 221, denominated “the Increase of Competitiveness in Almost any discussion about the forests of Romania starts small degree of accessibility to the forest First Afforestation of Agricultural Forestry from an ancient saying: “The forest, the Romanian’s brother”. and this is expected to represent in the The establishment of non-agricultural Lands”. Its objective was the Beyond the sentimental aspects of this topic, forests occupy years to come one of the great activities in the rural areas represents a afforestation of the decommissioned The National Rural Development today about 27% of the area of the country. The percentage challenges that need to be solved. The measure addressed to the forestry in agricultural lands and the creation of Programme 2014-2020 supports the management of the forest ecosystems is terms of the forest and wood product forest curtains. Thus, Measure 221 increase of competitiveness in forestry continues to decrease. Many of the hopes for the better of locally faced with an insufficient processing activities; the wood positively acted on the environmental by the implementation of a plan aiming forestry in Romania are related to the new National Rural capacity of consultancy; at the same sculpture craft is also envisaged within conditions, aiming at the prevention of at: Development Programme. time, the practices of sustainable the traditional activities. The support the damages produced by the - the reconstruction, preservation and management of the forests are very aims, on the one hand, the detrimental natural and anthropic development of the biodiversity, poorly promoted. establishment of small enterprises and, factors, the protection of the water inclusively in the Natura 2000 network on the other hand, the diversification of resources and, implicitly, the areas, in the areas confronted with Forestry, whereto? Specific of the forest areas and the improvement The fact that the companies operating the farmers’ activities by the adoption of improvement of the quality of the air. natural constrictions and within the objectives according to the of the viability of the forests by in the forest field have obsolete a new activity, with another profile but agricultural activities of high natural National Rural Development afforestation actions; equipment and machinery represents the agricultural one. The non- Over the period 2010-2013, 52 projects value. (Natura 2000 Network appeared Programme 2014 -2020 2. Forest-environment services aiming another important problem that must reimbursable financial support is were submitted (with a public value of out of the necessity to preserve the at the decrease of the number of the be solved. Not least, a great challenge of granted for maximum five years, and 4,354,839 Euro), of which 40 were biodiversity at European level, The new National Rural Development forest-technical interventions in the the 2014-2020 period is the appropriate the quantum varies between 10,000 selected. In the end, 29 projects were protecting the natural resources and Programme relates to forestry via two forest and the use of wood exploitation capitalization of the wood mass, so that Euro and 70,000 Euro, depending on contracted, with a total public value of wealth on the long run¸ for the major objectives, namely the technologies that are soil-friendly. The they would result in products with a the activity. 2,144,124 Euro. Out of the 29 projects, community interest. Protected areas in sustainable management of the forest forest-environment payments are also higher added value; logs and timber are 22 refer to the “Prevention of Erosion or terms of the natural habitat and of the resources and the risk management ranged within the forest-environment especially envisaged. The new National Rural Development Desertification”, and four aim at the wild species are part of the network.); within which the negative consequences services, which are granted to those Programme 2014-2020 also has a “Control of climate changes”. - forest-environmental services, climate of the climate change should be forest land owners within the National Sustainable management of the measure aiming at the investments in services and forest preservation; reduced. Forest Fund voluntarily undertaking to forests. Concrete measures via the the creation and development of the Overall, via the National Rural - investments in the development of comply with the forest-environment National Rural Development non-agricultural activities. Development Programme 2007-2013, a forest areas and forest viability There is a series of specific measures measures, for five years after the signing Programme 2014 - 2020 Microenterprises and the small percentage of about 56% of the improvement; envisaging precisely the of the agreement; enterprises in the rural environment are estimated agricultural area was - afforestation and creation of implementation of the two big 3. Maintenance and improvement of the Although the discussions for the finding envisaged, supported to create or afforested, namely 496,27 hectares. afforested areas; objectives: water resources; of solutions that are as viable as develop new activities in the villages. - transfer of knowledge and promotion 1. The investments in the development 4. Risk management in agriculture and possible in terms of the counteraction of The farmers aiming at an alternative to The new National Rural Development of information.

6 7 Rural Romania – No. 12

Non-reimbursable financing for a wood processing company in Mureș

Romania has extended areas covered by efficient equipment, purchased within contributed to the business start-up with forests. The total area of the forest fund, the project; timber drying and the same resources, both financial and public State property, represents processing; production of fire wood and material, and they contracted a bank approximately half the national forest wood coal for the export. credit in order to access the European fund. The new private owners of the funds. retroceded forests are confronted with The final purpose of the project begun in the solving of short-term financial 2009 was the development of a local The main “obstacle” in the business problems. That is why, the increase of industry, meaning places of employment development was the rigidity of the the added value of the wood by the for the local residents, as well as the banking system. They were not able to processing and the improvement of the increase of the added value of the forest get a credit at the beginning, upon the marketing policies by the attraction of products, an important local potential. signing of the financing contract. The European funds represents efficient The economic situation in the area was advancing of a rather significant amount manners to increase the incomes of the not one of the happiest, the hop farms in in order to start the investment into the communities holding forest fund and for which most local residents were working project was a real problem. Being a start- the creation of places of employment, had been closed or operated at minimal up, it was difficult to get bank support. encouraging at the same time the capacity. The project responded to local They were forced to request the sustainable management of the forests. needs, the fire wood one, main source of extension of the implementation by one heating the dwelling houses in the area, year. The credit was obtained only in Marius Băcișor, the administrator of S.C. as well as the one of places of 2011, by real estate guarantees and Andrea Forest S.R.L., is one of the employment. There was a scarcity of securities provided by RCGF (Rural owners who saw development places of employment for the young Credit Guarantee Fund). Another opportunities in wood processing, by people in the area, especially for the ones obstacle, both in the project preparation accessing European funds. who wanted to diversify their incomes, and in the implementation, was besides the ones obtained from bureaucracy. Marius Băcișor greets the S.C. Andrea Forest S.R.L. in Saschiz, agriculture. recent changes related to the procedures Mureș County, established in 2007, for the implementation of non- deals with wood exploitation, buys foot Marius Băcișor, forest engineer, had an reimbursable fund projects, in which the wood from the forestries and the forest experience of only four years in the payment claim system is used and not owners in the area, exploit it, then forest field, but had courage and was the advancing from own funds, followed capitalize the wood as log for the confident in his own forces. As he by reimbursement claims. production of furniture and fire wood, confessed to us, “ there are doubts in any both for household needs and for business, both about the benefits and The final result of his project is industrial ones. about the risks, especially since the satisfactory to him. New machinery and economy in those moments was in performances which resulted in the The main objective of Marius Băcișor’s decrease and everybody was talking increase of the added value of the forest project, amounting to approximately about the economic crises ”. He needed products also have an effect on work 800,000 Euro, by Measure 123, was the “ambition, patience and resistance to productivity. After the commissioning of purchase of machines specialized for the physical and mental effort ”, he also the new machinery, the efficiency harvesting, transport and processing of says. increased by approximately 20% in the first year, the volume of the activity representative for the area, the wood. I “nothing is done without work, they timber in the area. The use of sustainable first year and the maintenance on the increased by 100%. have learnt enough so as not depend so need consultancy because there are any forest methods, superior technology, He contracted a consultancy firm which wood market was provided by a superior much on consultants in the following documents to be elaborated and they modern equipment have a lower impact helped him, though he elaborated a big capitalization thereof. “The main satisfaction is that I can projects. Experience is valuable not only must possess lots of patience ”. on forests, in the harvesting process and part of the project documentation provide places of employment for the for my business, but also for the ones utilizes the extracted wood to the himself. He considers that the Now the business is prosperous and local residents, for the young people. who ask for my advice, especially those What is the next step? “ I propose to maximum, producing high-quality information and the consultancy are keeps an ascending trend. The Eight places of employment were from the local community and the make, besides the wood exploitation, a timber for export, with minimal losses. very important to prepare the young competitive advantages are: productivity provided over an indefinite period and micro-region, who want to access non- wood processing factory wherein to people in the rural environment in view increase, the reduction of the operating an average of 14-15 employees along the reimbursable funds themselves. ” produce timber for furniture out of logs. The main forecasted activities were: the of the initiation of projects financed from costs, the introduction of the raw year, depending on the season and the Besides fire wood, to produce as well 15- wood extraction from an area of 5,000 European money. material in production within a shorter market evolution. I am glad that I can He advises all those who want to follow 20,000 cubic meters of processed hectares of forest, performed with care time interval, which helps to the efficiently exploit a resource that is his example to be aware of the fact that timber yearly .” for the environment, with modern and Marius Băcișor and his partner compliance with the contracts. After the

8 9 Rural Romania – No. 12

Responsibility and professionalism: Afforestation project of S.C. Robinia S.R.L. in Lugoj

programme, the eligible value of the project being of approximately 50,000 Euro. By the project, the nursery garden was equipped with modern and high- performance machinery.

Persevering in the preoccupation for the use of the European funds, the company created in 2013 a forest plantation of 5.06 hectares via Measure 221, the total eligible value of the project being of 34,000 Euro.

“The profile of the field in which we operate implies seasonal work, with a peak in spring and autumn, periods in which, besides the 2 - 4 permanent employees, we attract from the market many unskilled workers. Our project does not respond only to the necessity of development of the economy in the micro-region. In fact, by the implementation of an afforestation project, the true reward is obtained on the long run, the enrichment of the vegetation, implicitly of the fauna, the satisfaction of contributing to the sustainability of nature itself. We leveraged in the development of this afforestation project having at the basis firstly the technical knowledge in the least, unique in the area. Most county councils, public finances, APIA The representative of the project realized forest field, and then the experience impressions are positive, although there (Agriculture Payments and by S.C. Robinia S.R.L. says that the prior to the European fund accessing are also skeptical people. Natural Intervention Agency), the company came to prominence on the project, whereby we managed to equip persons and institutions, such as town- environmental agencies etc. Sometimes market and earned the first position in Lugoj micro-region is characterized by a the European money: “ I think that a the nursery garden with new and high- halls, firms, associations, monasteries the procedure is not so well known in 2011 and 2012 in the top of the firms in dynamic economic evolution, with major person thinking about accessing non- performance machinery .” frequently request to us information these institutions, and the applicant the field, according to Timiș Chamber of investments in the industrial field. But reimbursable funds must be a good about the manner in which they could wastes money, time and other resources Commerce. “ These accomplishments there is also a great agricultural and professional in the chosen field, must be The main difficulty was, according to make a forest plantation and we are and many times he gives up. were based on lots of work and environmental protection potential, driven by the wish to make a change for Dănuţ Ciorogariu, “bureaucracy, glad to share our experience with them. perseverance, but also responsibility which still awaits to be valorized. the better for himself and for the ones aggravated by the relatively new It is a great joy for us to know that the It is a great satisfaction to see, after a towards the client: high-quality plants around him, for the nature, must choose character of this type of project. The file seedling produced by us help the lot of work and effort, that a new forest and seedling, customized consultancy, About the afforestation project of S.C. competent people around him. of our project contains 152 pages! I think creation of new forests. We are waiting shaped up in a deficient area. Results maintenance of a positive image on the Robinia S.R.L., begun in 2013, based on Motivation, work, patience are essential that the technical project, the documents for the simplification of the bureaucratic begin to appear, and the effects on the business, attraction of new clients and financing via Measure 221, engineer conditions ,” Dănuţ Ciorogariu says. attesting the ownership over the land procedures for the accession of the natural environment are already keeping the current clients .” Dănuţ Ciorogariu provided us with and the technical acceptance of the work funds, as well as for a better visible. The trees grow from one year to information, graduate of the Faculty of Robinia nursery garden in Lugoj was performed in compliance with the preparation and motivation of those the next, the birds and other animals In Romania, over 3 million forest Forestry within Transilvania University established in March 2003 and has as project would have been enough.” who have to guide the potential manage to find a safe place among seedlings produced in the nursery of Brașov and coordinator of the main activity the production of forest beneficiaries. The projects get stuck due them and, gradually, out purpose garden of S.C. Robinia S.R.L. have been technical activity of the project. His seedling, fruit trees and ornamental “The realization of an afforestation to causes that have nothing to do with shapes up: a forest in the true sense of planted over the last 10 years. analysis and vision constitute a model plants. He accessed the first European project by a private firm is an their essence, but because of notices and the word, with all the beneficial effects for anyone who wants to responsibly use funds in 2006, via the SAPARD interesting thing and, up to this date at procedures at institutions such as the that it has on the environment .”

10 11 Rural Romania – No. 12

Christmas trees “made in” Sălaj - Looked for by supermarkets, but also on the external market

Szoboszlai Attila was teacher of physics because we worked with service qualitative development of our and mayor of the Commune of Camăr in supplying firms, but, in the season products, on increasing the exported Sălaj County for four consecutive period, namely that of the fir tree quantity, as the Romanian fir trees are mandates. He established Nordman cutting and capitalization, the number competitive on the external markets ”, Product S.R.L. in 2006, as a response to of employees was between 40 and 60 the farmer states. As regards the main the increasing demand of high-quality people ”, Szoboszlai explained to us. difficulties they are faced with on the fir trees on the Romanian market. From the obtained incomes, he tries to day to day activity, the most important reimburse the costs of the investments appear because of the “legislative lacks He initially tries to do agriculture, on made and to provide the continuity by of clarity”, especially in terms of the the lands that remained merged, at the the establishment of new plantations. non-differentiation of the fir tree boundary of the locality of Camăr, but production on agricultural areas from he was not successful. “ I was working In the beginning he planted 100 the one done on forest areas. Thus, at a loss from one year to the other, hectares, and then the small trees began according to its manager, the firm in although I had my own machinery. I to grow it was a real satisfaction. “ It is Sălaj cannot benefit from European had losses because either the weather very hard to resist a few years without financing, as it is considered neither conditions or the market prices were producing anything, without gaining agricultural not forest. not appropriate ”, the entrepreneur tells anything, but when I saw the small fir us. trees growing I was thinking that, in For some time, the firm has been five-seven – years’ time, we would exporting on the occidental markets The fir tree idea came to him following have a production from which we (France, Belgium, Germany, the the holidays spent in European would recover the investment, I was Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Austria, countries, when he discovered that, fir telling myself that it is worth making Hungary), but also to the Moldavian trees loc are cultivated on the this effort ”, the business man from Sălaj Republic. The export represents agricultural areas in Austria, Germany told us. approximately 25% of the commercial or Denmark instead of corn or wheat. activity of the company. Currently, the In Camăr, fir tree species that are more firm has about 380 hectares of “I started collecting information, but I and more sought on the European Christmas tree plantations, of which, came to the conclusion that I was out of markets are cultivated. After a few from the first period, there are already my depth in terms of the financial years’ waiting, the results started to 1.5-2 meter high fir trees. This year needs and the knowledge specific to appear, 2012 being the year with the there were significant orders for fir trees this field”, the owner of the largest first Christmas trees sold from the with root, in a pot, many of them plantation of Christmas trees in nursery garden in Camăr. Here, the fir coming from the supermarkets in Romania told us. He had a spell of luck trees are prepared for sale in different Romania. This year, they have already when he met an Austrian investor who variants: with root with earth globe, sold more than 30,000 fir trees in pots. corresponded from both perspectives. with root in a pot or as fir trees cut for Thus, Szoboszlai did not have to resort Christmas. The species are: silver fir In Romania, from the cut fir trees, the to bank credits, the investor being the tree (Picea pungens glauca), Nordmann Normann fir tree is preferred and, one who provided financial and fir tree (Abies nordmanianna), pine Szoboszlai proudly states, the most professional support, and the family in spruce (Picea abies) and black pine beautiful pine spruces and silver fir Sălaj contributed with the lands for the spruce (Pinus nigra). trees with root, grown in a nursery and plantation, labour and “ambition ”. over extended areas, come from the The entire family is involved in the domestic plantations. The firm began its activity with serious activity of the firm, family declaring that investments, as the expenses on the it is thrilled it has managed to create “I have always wanted to create on the establishment of a fir tree plantation are place of employment not only for its native lands an ambient favorable to high and, up to the first incomes, they members, but also for the people in the my life and my family’s life, and I am can exceed 10,000 Euro/hectare. A part local community, without the help of currently convinced that my wish may of the expenses were covered from the whom their dreams could not have come true in the shadow of these small profit obtained following the come true. fir trees ”, the business man concluded. capitalization of the imported fir trees. “We did not have many employees, “In the future, we wish to focus on a

12 Rural Romania – No. 12

“Absolute Carpathian”: Ecotourism on the track of wolves and lynxes

(http://www.absolute-nature.ro), a few observation and appreciation of the has more than 5,000 bears, 3,000 months before scheduling their arrival in nature and of the local traditions, in wolves and 1,500 lynxes in its forests, Romania and get all the necessary pieces more secluded areas and the support of almost one third of the population of of information on the offered packages. the local residents and of the small large carnivores in Europe. These, along For the most difficult tours, a certain business, especially in the rural areas. with the tourist attractions, such as physical condition is necessary and there Ecotourism also has an educational castles, fortified churches, towns/cities is also a list of pieces of equipment that component, one of awareness of the etc., provide the opportunity of an they need, so as not to have unpleasant importance of the preservation of unforgettable holiday in our country, are surprises. Up to the present date there nature, both among the tourists and the explained to tourists on the mentioned has been only one case, in which one of local communities and implies a low website. the clients was not able to physically get impact on the environment. Romania through, because he had not provided A tour-operator in Romania vivifies only in 2006, as she told herself, situation of working with the tourists, essential information at the right time. genuine adventures for the nature and specifying that she decided to take this do not get the best results. For the more The tourists are thrilled by the Holidays in the middle of nature ecotourism lovers in the Carpathian step in order to complete a niche difficult trips, we have no competition in landscape, the nature and the Mountains. “Absolute Carpathian” is uncovered by the tour-operators in the Romania, but for the easier activities, experiences that they have in Romania, The holidays can be arranged for a period between one and eight days. For instance, located in Zărnești, near Brașov, and area: the possibility for the interested there are also other companies in the with only one exception: they are the one called “A short break in the wilderness – bears” is available each year, provides authentic experiences in the tourists to be able to observe wolves, field ”, Simona Munteanu explains. unpleasantly surprised by the garbage between 15th of April and 1st of June, and it is dedicated to watching brown bears. middle of the wild nature, for the bears and lynxes in natural conditions. that they find even in the most isolated The landscapes are impressive, and you can also see other animals, such as observation of the animals and birds in The guests usually prefer complex and most beautiful places. chamois, deer, does and marmots, in places difficult to reach within the Bucegi the area, in their habitat. The company The firm provides several types of trips, tourist packages, including various Natural Park. Groups should consist of up to 5 people. You will be accommodated was established in 2004, by Simona in order to facilitate the access of as services, the take-over from the airport, For the time being, mostly foreigners are in a camping site, cooking is provided by the guide, outdoors, and you will spend Munteanu and her sister, but in a totally many tourists as possible to these but also visits to other regions, such as interested in these activities. “ The the day on mountain trails, looking for animals that can be watched as close as different field, that of the sale of goods in adventures. If, at the beginning, the Bucovina or the Danube Delta. The Romanians may take these possible. The trip lasts five days, and the price is 400 euro per person. consignment. accent was placed on physically very company collaborates with several extraordinary species – bears, wolves, Another trip is called “A short break in the wilderness – wolves” and it can be demanding activities, but which boarding houses in the areas of Zărnești, lynxes – as something natural in the organised between 15th of January and 15th of April. You will be accommodated in The idea of the “Carpathian adventure” provided best chances to see the Măgura, the Danube Delta, Maramureș, forests of our country and sometimes the cabin of a former hunter, the conditions are rudimentary, on wooden beds, with came from a project entitled “Large respective species in their natural Bucovina. Even if the number of tourists they even consider them a nuisance that sleeping bags, no toilets or showers. It lasts five days as well, and it costs 420 euro Carnivores in the Carpathians”, initiated environment, gradually, coming into so far has not been a very high one, the we have to live with, so that they are not per person. The degree of difficulty is marked D, which means that those who are in 1993 by a German, Christoph contact with various categories of activity gradually developed, and the interested in spending hundreds of Euro interested in this trip are required to have good stamina and minimal experience Promberger, and a Romanian, Ovidiu tourists that are more or less “sports company also collaborates with several to see them in their natural with mountaineering. In addition, they have to handle sleep deprivation well, for Ionescu, manager at the Institute of people”, but willing to benefit from an tourism agencies from abroad, sending environment, with pretty big efforts ”, the days or late nights of “stalking” in the wilderness. Forestry Research and Developments in experience related to the targeted groups of up to 15 people. “I do not think Simona Munteanu says. “So far, we have There are less challenging tours, too, which last eight days – “Living in the Brașov. The project was initially focuses species, have begun to add easier tours that there are many people who have had a single small group of Romanians.” wilderness for eight days” – where on some days you will be accommodated in a on fundamental research, but it was too. The collaborators are researchers heard of us, but the ones who visited us camping site and on others, in boarding houses in Zărnești, and they include visits gradually developed in four directions: who are very skillful in the detection of remember us for a long time and, as a These activities are not dangerous for to touristic sites in the area, such as Bran Castle, Peleș Castle, the city of Brașov, research, preservation, education and the targeted species, but who also have proof, we still keep in touch with a part either the participants or for the animals. Prejmer Citadel, Bâlea Lake. According to the trip you choose, the comfort of the ecotourism. tourism guide training. of the guests from the previous years”, The researchers know exactly which the the manager of this business tells us. methods to get close to the wild animals chosen boarding houses and the size of the group, the cost varies between 550- The ecotourism part was developed by “This is an essential aspect, as there are are, and the observation is made from a 1,550 euro per person. For certain trips, it is mentioned that the odds of seeing Simona Munteanu (who is specialized in also researchers who are very good in The tourists contact “Absolute 50-500 meter distance. lynxes and wolves, in the recommended period (November-December or January- economy, management and tourism) their work, but who, placed in the Carpathian” via the website Ecotourism has as a purpose the April) are 60%, because researchers know exactly the area where to look for them.

14 15 Rural Romania – No. 12

WWF (World Wide Fund) - Romania fights for the preservation and administration of forests

of the restrictive measures, that the forest owners now. In other words, the same as in industry there is the principle according to which the polluter pays, in the case of forests, those benefiting from the forests and the values provided by the forest (hotels and mountain boarding houses, operators of micro- hydropower plants, any economic actor getting profit from the forest) must contribute to the preservation thereof.

For the sustainability of the forests and of the economy, a superior word catalogue established, any virgin forest biodiversity values (for example: the condition of the forest allows this. The processing is necessary, locally, and we corresponding to the criteria defined by providing of tranquility areas for the code stipulates the association of the must overtake the stage in which we sell the authorities and WWF will be wild animals). owners with areas smaller than 100 logs and timber and move on to higher introduced in the catalogue and will hectares, included in value products, generating additional become a forest strictly protected by law. At the same time, the new Forestry Code production/protection unit established incomes for the forest sector and places stipulates, for the first time in Romania, on the territory of the same commune, of employment for the local In December 2011, the Ministry of the “the compensatory payments for respectively of the same town and the communities, the WWF representatives Environment and Forests and WWF- environmental services”, provided by the elaboration of forest developments. consider. Romania signed a protocol on the forest. At the same time, stimulatory collaboration in view of the payments for the private forest owners These days, WWF develops a public On the other hand, WWF-Romania identification, mapping and protection are also taken into account, for the campaign whereby promoting the Radar supports the preservation of the of the virgin forests in Romania, as they biodiversity values to be protected. of the forests, an efficient mechanism of biodiversity by the preservation of the are defined by mutual agreement. By the control of illegal cuts, introduced in the forest landscape, of the marginal signing thereof, the virgin forests have An important problem is that of month of October by the Governmental habitats or the management of the dead received the status of protected forests, afforestations. The Forestry Code Resolution no. 470/2014. WWF wood. Dead wood is very important for any kind of exploitation being excluded undertakes, by 2030, via the national contributed to the elaboration of this WWF-Romania organization has period 2012-2013. The initial the biodiversity in the forest, because it by law. afforestation Programme, that one resolution and constantly promoted the developed, for over 10 years, projects in proposition was conclusively rejected provides food and shelter for numerous million hectares of lands with another mechanism, both within the public, and the field of forest preservation, getting and the elaboration of the new Forestry species of animals and plants, and for The criteria for the identification of the destination but the forest one (grazing on the field, to the concerned factors. involves in the elaboration of national Code generated a series of public some of them, the existence of the dead virgin forests were established within a lands, meadows, degraded lands etc.) be standards and policies in this field. For discussions and consultations, intended wood in the forest is essential. If, in the restrained work group, comprising afforested. Since 1990 and up to the In the near future, based on a instance, WWF got involved, since as to find a solution accepted by all the old forestry code, the dead wood was a representatives of the authorities, of the present date, approximately 40,000 collaboration protocol between the early as 2012, in the draft of amendment interested factors. Following these possible source of infection for the civil society and of the forest owners. The hectares of degraded lands were Department for Waters, Forests and Fish of the Forestry Code, in order to make public consultations, the propositions forests and had to be compulsorily identification and mapping processes afforested in Romania. The obstacles Farming and WWF-Romania, the sure that it will respond to the priorities supported by WWF-Romania were removed from the forest, the new code continuously develops, since 2012, and back then are also valid now: very big following will be developed: related to the preservation of the included in the drafty of amendment of recognizes the value thereof for WWF published the results available so costs (the afforestation of a single biodiversity and the welfare of the local the Forestry Code starting with 2013 and biodiversity and for the forest. far for the analyzed counties. hectare of forest can cost even 6,000 • a good practice guide, which will communities. are to be found in the form forwarded to Euro) and the owners’ availability to provide recommendations to the the Commission of agriculture, forestry, At the same time, the organization In terms of financing, important steps assign the lands for afforestation operators for the appropriate The first propositions discussed in the food industry and specific services supports the establishment of the were taken in 2014 for the support of the (transformation of the agricultural lands implementation of this prevention Parliament comprised measures which within the Chamber of Deputies. The law National Catalogue of Virgin and Quasi- forest sector from European funds: in the forests). For Romania to be able to system. The guide will support the would have opened the path of massive has not been votes in the Parliament yet. virgin Forests, instrument contributing following the efforts made by WWF- afforest 1 million hectares by 2030, it capacity of the national operators and cuts and would have responded only to to the actual, immediate protection of Romania, ROS (the Romanian takes approximately 6 billion Euro and will provide uniform conditions of the market demand, not also to the According to WWF, the main problem in these types of forests. It will be launched Ornithological Society), the forest lands. application, precisely for an efficient principles of sustainable development. forestry is the sub-financing, at all levels. in 2015, the WWF representatives say. owners and the Department for Waters, implementation of the provisions of the The measures could have been removed That is why the organization proposes Following the “Save the Virgin Forests” Forests and Fish Farming, in the The new Forestry Code specifies the fact regulation. It will be published by the by law with the help of the thousands the creation of the legal framework Campaign, the creation of the framework National Rural Development that the owners having less than 10 end of the year. WWF supports, who chose to get whereby the direct beneficiaries of the legislation for the protection of these Programme 2014-2020 forest- hectares of forest can exploit 3 cubic • the map of the risk areas – will present personally involved in the solving of the environmental services provided by the forests was managed. The Forestry Code environmental measures were meters per year per hectare without the areas in Romania exposed to a high problem, following a campaign forests are bound to contribute by is the last step to the recognition and introduced –compensatory payments for forest development, only of they have a degree of appearance of illegal cuts. developed by the organized over the compensatory payments to the support protection of these habitats. Once this the measures of preservation of the 10-year security contract and only if the

16 17 Rural Romania – No. 12

Paulownia plantations: “the intelligent tree”,

between theory and practice with a diameter of the trunk of 10 to 15 cm and with a height of over 5-6 meters .

In 2014, we managed to reach one of the objectives: the establishment of Paulownia plantations larger than one hectare in over 10 counties of the country (Timiș, Constanţa, Galaţi, plantations of energetic willow and elongata Cotevisa 2 species, especially Teleorman, Călărași, Sălaj, Cluj, Satu elephant grass .” created for the European climate in Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Bihor). In 2015, laboratories situated in Spain. we propose to be present in almost all Research in support of farmers Paulownia elongata adjusts to the the areas in Romania allowing the climate conditions in our country and plantation and to complete the largest Mrs. Valentina Isac, doctor in also has other advantages: ornamental Paulownia plantation in Romania: 100 agronomy, plant protection and tree, melliferous, stabilized the soil, hectares. The preceding work has virology, researcher at the Research- absorbs large quantities of carbon already begun for one year, in the Development Institute for Pomiculture dioxide etc. this species also had good north –east of Timiș County. – Mărăcineni, provides us with valuable behaviour in the in vitro reproduction information related to the results of the conditions provided by the technology The partnership that we develop does Romanian research. applied in the in vitro culture laboratories at ICDP Piteşti not imply only the sale of seedlings, it “The preoccupations for the Mărăcineni. The multiplication rate is is a secondary activity. In order to get multiplication of the Paulownia good and allows the obtaining of a big the expected results and to exploit the tomentosa species began in the years of number of plants in a short time. The wood material five years after the The Paulownia plantation benefits both in the area of research and in that which the Chinese managed to 1998-1999 within a research theme plants can be delivered in a pot .” plantation, we must provide an ideal nowadays from continuously increasing of the practitioners in Romania. genetically modify one of the 17 basic regarding the establishment and the start to each Paulownia tree. We pay interest, not only in other parts of the species, Paulownia tomentosa, in the perfecting of the «in vitro» Bank financing initiatives great importance to this aspect, which world, but also in Romania. With the help of Mr. Mihai Georoceanu, direction of the increase of its tolerance reproduction biotechnologies of some is also the reason why we provide Business Development Manager at to the cold weather, to very low woody and dendrological species, in Mr. Andrei Apetrei, from Dâmboviţa warranty only to the seedlings planted Media broadcasted as “intelligent” or Paulownia Development, we may temperatures. We started the first order to obtain plants with high County, having a Paulownia plantation by our company. The land “miraculous” (due to its amazing self- present you with a successful opinion plantation from own resources; biological value. The research activity of 21 hectares, of which 3 km of forest protection capacity), Paulownia is the providing us with an image on the following thorough market studies, we preparation, the tracing of the planting began with the Paulownia tomentosa curtain, has been waiting for a few years tree with the fastest growth in the problems, solutions and the potential of considered it is more efficient to import plan, the performance of deep holes, species, considering the special to find a financing line for such world, it is ornamental, it may sustain a the field. each seedling that we plant, than to the elimination of the competition in decorative qualities of this species. plantations by non-reimbursable funds. business for the timber market and it locally multiply a genetically modified feeding by the application of a An alternative model is the crediting of may significantly cover the demand for “The beneficial characteristics of plant. geotextile material around each The studies allowed the establishment the Paulownia plantation by another wood, for biomass. It may be capitalized Paulownia are well known, the positive seedling are some of the important of micro-propagation biotechnologies intercalation culture, such as the in the production of yachts, light planes, impact that there trees have on the The success recorded by the big factors for the development of the providing information on the in vitro energetic grass, based on a financing musical instruments and expensive environment. Besides their role of land seedling producers and Paulownia Paulownia trees in best conditions. culture conditions and the protocol with a Romanian commercial furniture. It may compensate the huge stabilization, the root pivoting up to 10- timber exporters worldwide is due to performances of the species in this type bank, an initiative intended to help the clearings from the last decades. It is 12 meters in depth, they have a the perpetuation of the species, with the As regards the support of the financing of reproduction. For the P. tomentosa Romanian farmers. “ The financial extremely efficient in carbon particular capacity of carbon dioxide keeping and transmission of all the by European money, it is s topic in species, 46% growth and regeneration expenses generated by the crediting sequestration and the global warming absorption ,” Mr. Georoceanu stated. properties. Any attempt of permanent “stand-by”. We encourage efficiency was obtained, a will be covered from the exploitation of control. multiplication without the necessary the accessing of these funds, but the multiplication rate of 8.6 – 12 micro the intercalation culture. This concept “Over the last decades, laboratory experience, knowledge, technique and regulation norms have been postponed sprouts/explant, 85% rooted small will be used for the exploitations In Romania, the topic is in the area of researches were conducted in order to logistics will result in the obtaining of again, we have been waiting for them plants (the quality of the rooting is established in the spring of 2015 and debates, not rarely polemic. Although genetically modify the Paulownia seedlings identical in terms of aspect, since 2014. good, at an average number of 3.7 eliminates the financial effort that the there is much general and scientific seeds, so as to keep their growth rate, in the first phase. These ones, even if roots/sprouts, the length thereof was of establishment of the Paulownia information, it is difficult to draw and the qualities, in the conditions of they survive the freezing nights in the Nevertheless, we have information that 2.5 cm) and a good acclimatization exploitations generates ”, Andrei conclusions on the pragmatic field of the freezing winters and dry summers, first winter, the negative effects will not the Agriculture Payments and yield. Apetrei stated. opportunities, of the risks and benefits with higher and higher temperatures, delay to appear in time. The plantation Intervention Agency will separately of the establishment of such such as the ones encountered in our is now in the third year of regulate the energetic trees and will Recently, the preoccupations in this Further information: plantations. We considered useful to country. I accidently heard of this tree development, the trees have an aspect substantially subsidize both the field have been resumed in order to www.paulowniadevelopment.ro bring to you well-informed opinions 4-5 years ago, it was the moment in that is according to the expectations, Paulownia plantations, and the study the behaviour of Paulownia

18 19 Rural Romania – No. 12

Pig raising history in Romania

brought to Romania. By 1989, the export pork to the European Union, contracts with Mangaliţa pig raisers Romanian breeds, Bazna and because of the fact that the animals for traditional products. For the time Mangaliţa, had become extinct. From were vaccinated against the classical being, there is no question of exports, a figure of about 11 million pigs, only pig plague. The burst of a source of pig but only the national consumption. 200 exemplars still represented the plague at a farm in Timiș also added to Mangaliţa pig is considered a “luxury Romanian breeds; after the that, which caused extensive damage pig”, in terms of price, but it is Revolution, Romania was forced to to the Romanian raisers, bound to confidently welcomed by the import Mangaliţa breed from sacrifice about 50,000 animals in Romanian consumer. In Maramureș, Hungary. Currently, the pure 2007. In parallel, our country Covasna and Sibiu, Mangaliţa breed is Romanian breeds, Mangaliţa and imported large quantities of pork from more and more often encountered in Bazna, have become stars abroad. the European Union and continues to the households of the small and do so. On this background, the middle-sized producers. In Turda, Swine raising at the current domestic raisers feel more and more within the Resort of Agricultural moment threatened. They cannot compete with Researches, efforts are made for the the very low prices at which the keeping of Mangaliţa breed in a pure Swine raising continues to occupy the imported meat is sold today and they state. second position among the branches of risk becoming bankrupt. the Romanian zootechny. Half the Bazna pig takes important steps meat consumption of the country is The created situation provides them, towards revitalization too. It is a breed provided by pig raising. It seems that, however, with the possibility of that was sensational about a century in terms of food consumption, the salvation by the return to the origins. and a half ago, both in terms of its particular aspect (black colour with the cross breeding between Mangaliţa Romanians continue to prefer the pork The raising of the two breeds is white belt) and the easiness with Pig raising on the territory of Romania represents a breed and Berk breed (England), at the to poultry or beef. concerned, Mangaliţa and Bazna, which it is raised. Bazna pig is very millenary tradition. The pig was tamed along with the dog, end of the 19th century, Bazna breed extremely appreciated abroad and easily adjustable to the climate about 9,000 years ago, and keeps to the date its major role in resulted, in Transylvania. Within one In Romania, the main pig breeds are requested at prices that are profitable conditions in Romania, resisting both the rural household. hundred years, it became the breed divided, according to the origin, in for the producers. Mangaliţa breed is at very low and at very high specific to the Transylvanians. local breeds, appeared on the also known under the name of “the Romanian territory and imported salmon pig”, due to the meat with a temperatures. It represents a precocious breed, very resistant and A drop of history Evolution of pig breeds along Another Romanian breed, breeds, especially starting with 1970. very low cholesterol level. it represents non-pretentious in terms of food and time encountered, however, only in Haţeg From the Romanian breeds, the most the ideal raw material for a series of care. The archeological discoveries attest Depression, is represented by Negru important are Bazna, Mangaliţa, fine charcuterie products, the best the fact the old Dacians had as The primitive European domestic pig de Strei breed, created at the end of the Stocli, Albul de Banat and Albul de known being Sibiu salami. At the same Over the last years, Bazna pig became preponderant activity animal raising, used to bear the name of “Sus scrofa 19th century, by the cross breeding of Rusetu. As regards the imported time, Mangaliţa pork is recommended very popular at the shepherds’ folds, especially cattle and pigs. Cattle ferus”; for hundreds of years in a row, Mangaliţa and Stocli breeds. breeds, Marele Alb (the Big White), to the people with cardiovascular who chose to raise this pig breed along represented an important resource for the Dacians and then the Romans Duroc and Landrace are concerned, diseases. with goats and sheep. In the Blaj area, the dairy products and the pigs raised breeds of primitive species, Up until the 1970s, Bazna and very popular breeds in the Romanians’ the farmers also focused on raising represented the main source of meat. derived from the initial one. The oldest Mangaliţa breeds counted among the households. According to the date This breed seems to be reborn this breed. The Bazna pig perfectly Romanian breed is Stocli, with two most popular ones in Romania, but, on provided by the National Statistics especially in Transylvania. More and adjusts both to the fold, on the Under the domination of the Romans, varieties: the mountain pig and the the background of the necessity of Institute, in the month of May of 2014, more private households have begun mountain tops, and in the kennel, in the Dacians learnt to pay more moor pig. increasing productivity for the export, Romania had 4,518,966 heads of pigs, to raise Mangaliţa pigs. Mangaliţa Pig the people’s households. It is attention to land cultivation, animal the communist regime started to in slight decrease as compared to the Raisers’ Association was established as fascinating that it can be left to graze raising falling on the second position. In the 19th century, in Arad, Mangaliţa import somehow more commercial previous year. well, promoting this breed. A few the grass by itself, being able to The hierarchy of the activities has been breed appeared, by the cross breeding breeds, with more meat and less fat. chains of restaurants in the Capital recognize the way home on a one maintained in this formula up to of the Sumadia pig with the wild boar. Breeds from the USA and Canada, Over the period of 2003 - 2011, city, but also hypermarkets and stores kilometer range. nowadays. Subsequently, accidentally, following which reached maturity faster, were Romania did not have the right to in the cities of the country concluded

20 21 Rural Romania – No. 12

Roman Saturnalias, celebration that initiation function of the gangs in ancient Many times, the de-caroling turns into venerated Saturn god, an ancient divinity times, agrarian rituals, forms of real versified curses, one scarier than the who was the patron of the agricultural incantation, spring challenging, dawn other: “ May the pigs be hit by the work and land harvest. In the ancient invocation, victory of the solar light over wildfire/ And the hens by the cholera/ times, the cult of the Persian god of light, the dark are to be found. Genuine May the oxen by struck by the plague / Mithras, penetrated and rapidly spread processing of the Romanian village, And the sheep by the fluke/ May the dogs throughout the territory of the Roman caroling means going from one house to be hit by rabies/ And may the owners Empire. The same happened in Dacia. another, in a ceremonial rotation suffer from heartaches !”. Another form of Mithras’ birth was celebrated still on comprising the entire community. While de-caroling may also be considered the December 25th, when the ancient world the star songs have religious themes, the return of the gifts to the thrifty host, en The Calendar of our Villages celebrated the Birth of the Invincible Sun, leitmotif being the Savior’s birth, carols extremely embarrassing situation in Iulia Gorneanu the two celebrations subsequently speak about the creation of the world and which the discontent carol singers throw merging. Subsequently, the fundaments allegoric hunts, about emperors’ and big the gifts saying: “ May your alms go to the of Christianity being, to a large extent, boyars’ daughters, about the dispute hell !”, then intensify the power of the Sânicoară – the good Father Gang becomes the most important see blood, because it is only thus that they close to those of Christianity, the between wine, wheat and chrism, between uttered words by an “Amen!” pronounced authority in the rural community. Some will protected from diseases in the new population offered no resistance when the the lime and the fir tree, about love and all in choir. The beginning of the month of December gangs are accompanied by ‘turcă’ (a year. In their turn, children are put church decided, in the 4th century, to death, about the end of the world. The is under the sign of two saint fathers: disguised man wearing a goat mask), astride the pig and the cross sign is made institute the celebration of Jesus Christ’s christening produced along the centuries The New Year – rebirth of the Year Father Andrei/Saint Andrei (Andrew) and others by flag, sometimes the head has a on their forehead with the blood of the Birth on the same day, December 25th. influences both the customs between the God Father Nicolae/Saint Nicolae (Nicholas). bat, an archaic sign of the lads’ initiation sacrificed animal, so that they would have years and the texts of the carols, resulting Even if the former is celebrated on in ancient times. The drum, never absent rosy cheeks and by protected from the evil Therefore, by 354, when the Christians in the confusion thereof with the star Up to the 16th century, the moment of November 30th, the name of the last from the carol singers’ arsenal and from eye throughout the year. On this day, the consented in Rome the celebration of the songs. Being introduced by parish clerks passing between the years was month of the year, Andrea, Indrea or the props of the war gods, accompanies ritual demonism reaches maximal rates, Savior’s Birth in order to counteract the and priests, the star songs have a humble, represented by Christmas. It is then that Undrea keeps its memory, increasing his the gang and protects it from the evil and the sacrifice with magical finality, pagan celebrations originated by the religious character, a semi-cult origin, the New Year was celebrated. The old prestige. It is told that Father Nicholas spirits unleashed by the chaos produced bringing health and wealth, becomes rebirth of the solar gods, there were at they are inspired from the psalms, calendar time had to die in order to be guards the Sun in the sky, so that it would by the agony and death of the Year God. compulsory. “We work no other least three gods venerated on this day. In protestant chore songs and fragments reborn. Being of a recent date in reference not run away, sad due to the evil things way…nothing but the pig killing on the Pig all cases, gods who die and resurrect by from the classical music that are very to the age of the Popular Calendar, the that it sees every day. It is still him who Pig Sacrifice day – ceremonial Sacrifice day, because this is the ancestral regeneration are concerned, and bits of popular. They speak particularly about celebration of the New Year on the last brings the snow, when he shakes his long sacrifice dedicated to the Sun tradition and it is a pity not to kill it… so it the celebrations and ceremonies the miracle of the Savior’s Birth, having night of December – the first day of and white beard over the world. If it does not matter if it is black or white … dedicated to them are still alive within the an exclusively biblical theme. January never presented a particular happens for the month to pass without Even if the ceremonial dimension was the pig must be fat and good looking, so boundaries of the Romanian village. interest for the rural communities in our snowing and the land remains black, it is replaced by the gastronomic one, the 20th we can all have enough of it.” (…) “Dear De-caroling – Carol Singers’ Curse country. So much more as, in the said that Father Nicholas has grown day remains a landmark of the Popular God, alms from me, manna from you.” From Carols of the Star Songs Romanian Provinces, the New Year was younger. The countrymen call him Calendar. Today we call it simply: the Pig (Marcel Lapteș – “Time and Celebrations The year is getting close to the end, the celebrated on December 25th, along with Sânicoară and see him as an old saint, the Sacrifice day or the Pig Sacrifice. The of the Romanian Peasant”) The carol is a vocally sung wish, with a day comes when the doors are open for Christmas, up until the 19th century. same as the year coming close to the end. name of the celebration comes from the festive, augural character, of future the carol singers and we must find out Moreover, on the territory of our country, The legend says that he was a ferryman, Latin “ignis” (fire) and, in ancient times, it Christmas, Natalis Solis Invincit, anticipation and luck providing, of what may happen in case we do not three more beginnings of the year have that he stopped the deluge in Noah’s time, marked one of the most important solar the Roman Saturnalias, the birth of communication and reconciliation with welcome them. In the world of the been identified: on March 1st, by the that is why he is consider a guide and a celebrations of the year. In almost all Mithras, Savior’s Birth the souls of the dead, of invocation of the traditional village, this is sanctioned by a Roman calendar, on September 1st, by the protector of the people. He is the one mythologies, fire represents the birth of light and, upon the appearance of ritual gesture contrary to caroling, biblical calendar and, according to helping the poor girls, the children, projection of the Sun on earth, and the We are getting close to Christmas and it is Christianity, of the Savior’s Birth. It is referred to as “de-caroling”. De-caroling ethnologist Ion Ghinoiu, over the period orphans, widows, sailors, soldiers, he is animals ritually sacrificed during the solar important to know what it is, where it related to the Latin “calendae”, which, in involves violent ritual gestures such as November 13th - December 6th, by the generous and kind, bringing wealth and celebrations are zoomorphic comes from and since when it has been contact with the praise (“koleda”), pulling out the gate, staining the doors Dacian calendar. The shifting of the luck personifications thereof. Weakened by the celebrated. To find out why, besides the generated the Romanian form – the carol. with fuel oil, damaging the roof, chasing celebration of the Birth from the Twelfth effort made over the year, the Sun needed star songs notifying the Savior’s Birth, Some researchers derive the term from the cattle and the poultry out of the yard Day to Christmas, occurred in the 4th Caroling in a male gang – tradition life, blood, and the moment in which the carols are heard in our villages with the Greek term “corus”, meaning rotation, and it is accompanied by evil-bringing century, as well as the shifting of the that is twice as old as Christianity archaic man thought about an strange texts about the lion, about the round dance, the same way as caroling incantatory formulas, a detrimental passage between the years from intervention in order to save it was ‘dulf’ (character in the Romanian means going from one place to another, contra-ritual, malefic reversion of December 25th to January 1st, made the This time last year, Caroling in a Male around the winter solstice, when the mythology personifying a spirit of the taking a circular ancestral road. Carols are caroling. Sometimes the lines are comical: traditions mix. Until the ethnologist get to Gang in Romania and Moldavia was celestial body lit the least. The women sea), about the stag, song in a warlike sung at night, time that is considered “May you have so many lice in the house decipher their secret, let’s enjoy them and included in the List of UNESCO were the ones who took care that the manner by men grouped in gangs, some magical, and the consecrated sacred / and so many mice on the table / as nails wait with light in our souls the Birth of the Worldwide Patrimony, becoming thus a sacrifice would take place in certain space with their face covered by masks, others locations are particularly the passing on the house!”, other times, they are even Savior, Jesus Christ! patrimony of humankind. What should and time conditions: the purified the wearing props of symbolical objects, who ones: the house sill, window, gate. In the licentious: “Carol, carol / Put the mare have been a genuine national celebration place by incense or splashing pure water significance was lost as time went by. development of this ancient custom, on the porch / Tie it up to the beam / Give only meant a press note. In the villages in and chose the best moment of the day, practices still reminding us of these the it hay to eat / And kiss it under the tail !”. Ţara Făgărașului, Ţara de Sus a Moldovei, compulsorily after the sunrise and before In its first centuries, Christianity did not Ţara Loviștei, in the settlements in the sunset, when the sun shines in the sky. celebrate Christmas as Jesus Christ’s date Apuseni and in Bucovina, on Father There is the hypothesis that, in ancient of birth, this one not being specified in the Nicholas’ day, the Gang of Lads gets times, the ritual would have required texts of the whole books. However, our Discover the Romanian Traditional Blouse! together. This close friendship gaining human sacrifice, and the confirmation ancestors prepared in this period of the The Romanian Traditional Blouse Chung, Katie Holmes, Anne Hathaway, whose graphics is to be found on the ground over the village up until the may be the popular belief according to year for their most important celebration. inspired the great painters and designers Liv Tyler, Rita Wilson, Adele; it became a entire planet helps us reconstitute an Twelfth Day, the Gang is organized by which “on the Pig Sacrifice day it is It took place on December 25th and it was of the world: Henri Matisse, Yves Saint royal garment thanks to the queens of ancient common grammar. Thus, the rigorously established rules: the host is established for a man to die by all means”. known under the name of the Birth if the Laurent, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Oscar de la Romania. Romanian Traditional Blouse – a genuine chosen first, then the gang leader (the big It is said that no person who felt pity for Invincible Sun. According to the old Renta, Tom Ford, Joseph Altuzarra, An example of exceptional and identity icon, clothing archetype of the head) and the aids hereof, the small head, the animal had to assist to the pig calendar, this was the date of the winter Nicole Miller; it was worn by celebrities particularly refined collective design, the women in these locations– means a the tavern keeper and the lad guarding sacrifice, because then the ritual loses its solstice, moment from which the day such as Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot, “motive” of the Romanian Traditional connection with the past, with the future the pantry on the Christmas evening and efficiency and the meat is no longer good. started to grow and the sun to be reborn. Dalida, Virna Lisi, Ali McGraw, Raquel Blouse comes from old times, being and, by means of the universal language distributing the food and drink to the On the other hand, it is believed that, on At the same time, December 25th was Welch, Jennifer Garner, Kate Moss, actually a pre-alphabet. The graphic of its signs, with the traditional other lads. Throughout this period, the the Pig Sacrifice day, all the people must situated somewhere in the middle of the Kourtney Kardashian, Halle Berry, Alexa exhibition on textile of symbol signs communities of the world.

22 23 Rural Romania – No. 12

washed in tears. Food is eaten maximum twice a day. The short praising church Decorated Christmas in Bucovina songs are solemnly uttered, they are no longer sung.

In the villages of Bucovina, the Christmas fast is sacredly kept. Starting with November 15th, the house is the first to undergo a cleaning ritual. “ All the rooms are decorated with basil and holy water. The pots in which meat foods are cooked are put aside, they are replaced by the fast pots, in which meat or dairy products have never been cooked. The things around the house are replaced and refreshed, so that the soul would be cleaned and refreshed too. It is required from the people to speak less; then, on Saint Andrew’s day, the entire household, the house, the yard, the garden, the animal shelter are incensed. In the end, garlic is smashed and swept along the entrance, the door handles, the window sill, in order to keep the evil spirits away ”, popular master Elena Torac discloses.

The villages of Bucovina, Intact Traditions

Especially in the villages of Bucovina situated in the mountain area, time Over the Christmas period, the joyful terms of hues, but also of the in the frescoes of the monastery cannot seems to stand still. The tradition of the Bucovina emanates razzle-dazzle and representations, takes the form of a visit be reproduced to this date. winter holidays is kept intact. colours that are unique in the world. card marked by enigmas. The colours More than ever, the traditions are impeccably resisted as time went by and Humor Monastery is covered in ruby Ciocănești and Botoș villages are unique brought to life again in all the aspects of they cannot be reproduced, besides the “clothing”, on the inside and on the in the world. They belong to the life. currently available technologies. Besides outside, by an impressive number of Commune of Ciocănești, officially the azurite sand, the laboratory tests frescoes painted with tenths of hues of declared a museum - commune - in Secrets of the Monasteries of managed to decipher just one more red colours. Romania. Absolutely all are decorated Bucovina ingredient in the structure of the colours, houses, with exterior façades just as unusual – plum brandy. The frescoes of Suceviţa Monastery hide embroidered with traditional motives, The Monasteries of Bucovina set the incomprehensible secrets: a series of inspired by the folk costume. The models tone of humbleness and repentance. The church of Arbore monastery holds elite representatives of Ancient Greece were influenced by the craftsmanship of Their uniqueness in the world is related exterior frescoes realized with secret are painted, with no connection to each house owner. Some decorated the to the representative colour (Voroneţ craftsmanship: the background of the Christianity – Aristotle, Pythagoras, fences too. The fashion started in the blue, Tree green, Humor red and painting is dark green, but the total Plato and Sophocles – among saints 1950s, when a housewife named Moldoviţa yellow) and the interior and aspect inspires very much warmth, light such as Saint Nicholas (Nicolae) or Saint Leontina Ţăran decided to practice the exterior frescoes patiently and minutely and serenity. George (Gheorghe). The green hues of egg decoration craft on a somehow larger illustration an endless series of the painting also keep an impenetrable scale – on the walls. redemptive sermons. They are very Voroneţ Monastey, “the Sistine Chapel of mystery – they cannot be reproduced in ancient places of worship, of about 500 the Orient”, continues to intrigue by the any form. In the Commune of Breaza, there is one years, and by their founders – Alexandru secret of its blue colour; it has been village named precisely like this: “the cel Bun, Ștefan cel Mare, Petru Rareș, discovered that the masters working for Christmas Fast Village of Bucovina”. It is a time turning Movilă brothers – represent a gate to the Ștefan cel Mare used a very fine sand to land, about 200 years ago. About seven medieval history of Moldavia. obtain the Voroneţ blue, resulted from In monasteries the fast is strict. The traditional houses, dating from the 19th The church painting in Voroneţ, the grinding “azurite” stone, brought monks abstain from food and insist century, have been transported from Suceviţa, Arbore, Humor, Moldoviţa in from Asia and Africa. However, the hue before God, with begging prayers, several corners of Bucovina and

24 25 Rural Romania – No. 12

arranged one next to the other, under the Gastronomically, Casa Poveste (the Tale to as the Transfăgărășan of Bucovina. form of an ancient rural settlement. House) believes in a principle that The official denomination is Transrarău. Absolutely all the construction materials remained from the Hapsburgs: “The It connects Bistriţei Valley to Moldovei are the original ones, and only very old owner cooks here”, this meaning that the Valley, by a very narrow, winding road, household use objects are to be found owner’s family eats the same dished as along 10 kilometer, at an altitude of inside, dating from the same period as the tourists. In Bucovina, there is no 1,500 meters. the dwelling houses. The houses of the cooking with E-type food additives. Village of Bucovina are a museum, but Everything is natural, from the meat to Christmas Atmosphere also boarding houses. They are open to the dairy products. “ Fast is strictly kept, tourism, providing the clients with the especially since we have very tasty PThe winter holiday period turns chance to spend a stay in the most ancient recipes; the beetroot sour soup Bucovina into a paradise of colour and traditional way possible. and beans dish are the most popular. In roar. All the people are busy. Most the rest of the year, unsalted sheep curd, craftsmen decorate the Christmas eggs. The Commune of Marginea is famous in boiled in milk with a little corn flour, Although the ancient tradition refers to the entire Bucovina due to the black with sour milk and non-sieved green the Easter eggs, the celebrity of the ceramics. There is no household without cheese mixed with whey from the fold, decorated eggs made the people turn this black ceramics. The black ceramics is a boletus and sausage sour soups, pork on custom into an art that they practice craft dating for at least 400 years. The the bone with cabbage are eaten ”, Mr. throughout the year. The newest custom art of pottery in this space is even older Savin explains. is that of decorating the Christmas eggs than that, representing a Dacian with models inspired from the winter heritage. Places to visit rural landscape: rural houses, gangs of carol singers, Christian icons, Bucovina Christmas Tale Daniil Sihastru’s sanctum is to be found personifications of Santa Clause. in Village of Putna, in the vicinity of the Casa Poveste (the Tale House) boarding monastery bearing the same name, and “Nowadays, the decorated eggs are house is on the valley to Slătioara and, it represents a place of pilgrimage filled emptied of their content and given as a according to its name, it tells a purely with picturesque charm. The cave was gift; they are no longer broken on the Bucovina-specific Christmas tale. “ For dug by Daniil Sihastru with the chisel, in Easter meal, as it was before. The 30 years, my wife has collected old, a rock on the valley of Viţău spring and it ancient techniques and symbols have traditional objects from the villages of is made up of a chapel with metal bars been, however, kept ”, Mrs. Elena Torac, Bucovina; everything that the people instead of windows and a small sanctum, a popular craftsperson, discloses. “ The were ready to throw down the steep (the in which the hermit led his ascetic life for Bucovina-specific symbols used in waste dump), my wife saved and 20 years. He recieved here Ștefan cel needle-work, in sculpture, on paintings brought home, out of passion for the Mare several time, whom he also are concerned: the lost track (the oldest Bucovina-specific art. Five years ago, encouraged to built as many churches as Bucovina-specific symbol), the Easter we decided to collect houses too, not possible. Cross, the shepherd’s crook, the clover only objects. We bought four old houses, leaf, the priest’s saddle bag. The colours 110-150 years ago; we dismembered Pietrele Doamnei (Lady’s Rocks) are natural, made of plants, and the I felt the need to paint icons. I make represent faces of old men, old women, breads, the fruits and other received them, moved them to our locality and represent another genre of treasure: they techniques are also extremely old. The them on lime tree because they gypsy females, the ones in the village treats. then reassembled them exactly as they are rocky formations, made of limestone, Bucovina - specific one is the Batik uniformly dry on this wood and no processing. In my family, this craft has were initially built ”, Mr. Ciprian Savin, with an intriguing aspect. Due to the technique or the technique of the colour unevenness appears. My icons been transmitted since around 1800, Nevertheless, Malanca is the top the boarding house owner, tells. strange shape of the rocks, several successive colour baths; the three- are copies of the miracle icons; I also but I think that the bear masks are even moment of any Christmas in Bucovina, a legends circulate around them. All are dimensional wax one is very make reproductions from the Russian older than that. I make them from form of popular theater taking different Three houses are in use, and the fourth related to Madam Helen (Elena), Petru appreciated by the foreign tourists and iconography. The features of the saints natural wastes, fur pieces, pieces of forms depending on the area. At Putna, one is in construction. The insides can be Rareș’s wife; it is said that, during the we still have the technique of the must be kept; otherwise the saint can no fabric, beans. I make them out of pure Suceviţa and Arbore, “Ștefan cel Mare’s set up as museum exhibitions, but the Ottoman attacks, she would have found wooden eggs bathed in wax, in which longer be recognized. I spend about pleasure, out of love for tradition. I do Malanca” is played. A procession of decorations are adjusted to the hotel shelter in a cave in Rarău Mountains, beads are impregnated .” The Bucovina- eight hours every day on this craft .” not have a template, I make them by my about 20 people dressed costumes of the conditions. “ In terms of room size and hiding the family fortune there as well. specific Christmas eggs are raised to the own mind, but they must be very period wander the alleys of the villages facilities, we are accredited to 4 stars. She thus saved her life, but the treasure rank of modern art. They are hung in the Another Bucovina craft specific to the expressive. They are very dear to me, I rendering sequences from the life of the Imagine that the tourists go to bed in remained hidden inside, as a Christmas tree and reflect sequences of winter holidays is represented by masks. am full of sorrow when I sell a mask .” Moldavian Ruler. The most common about 150 year old beds! We did not thunderbolt split the mountain rock, the rural life, village landscapes, children “This tradition is very old in our area ”, Malanca remains, however, the one repaint the furniture, we just cleaned it. tumbling it down over the cave. The going sledging, the peasants’ activities or popular craftsperson Ana Cazac tells. In Bucovina, Christmas is lived the same played in people’s yards, full of ironies. The floral motives are the traditional access road to Pietrele Doamnei (Lady’s Santa Clause. During the Christmas fast, the girls used way as it was lived one hundred years The picturesque characters, the ones, specific to the area, and the black Rocks) starts from Câmpulung to work on artisanal objects, and the lads ago. People go to church only wearing celebration costumes and the satiric and white contrast is representative for Moldovenesc. Mrs. Lăcrămioara Mihoreanu paints used to make masks, to wear when the folk costume. Children go carol accents are not absent. Bucovina: the white comes from the icons on lime wood. “ I do not have caroling on the alleys and at the villagers’ singing with small bags made of chalk with which the houses were The Treasure Route is addressed to the religious training, I simply found houses. “ They are traditional here, in coloured wool, hung from their painted and the black comes from the courageous tourists. It was consigned in comfort painting icons following a Bucovina. They are used in theatre shoulders; in them, they keep all the way fuel oil ”. the autumn of 2014 and it is also referred difficult life experience. All of a sudden, plays and Christmas shows. They home the pies, small knot-shaped

26 27 Rural Romania – No. 12

products are only two of the reasons which could contribute to bringing again into discussion the cultivation and processing of flax and hemp, as Technical Plants in Romania well as the identification of methods for the revival thereof. The flax fibers are resistant to tear and - tradition and challenges rotting, but are, at the same time, elastic, smooth and glossy. Sail cloths, parachutes, linens, clothing items, cloth for paintings are made of flax fibers. The flax seeds, the flax seed flour and the cakes are used in medicine. The chaffs (meaning the stem residue remained following the smashing and scutching) are raw materials for the manufacturing of glucose or the production of chipboards.

Besides the varied clothing items, the thread used in shoemaking, the tarpaulins, fishing nets, tiller ropes are made for instance of hemp fibers – thanks to the resistance of the fiber to rotting. The secondary products, such as oils, cakes or chaffs have uses that are similar to those originating from the flax cultures.

The cultures of technical plants refer to the flowers, roots and stems for various the states with high oil consumption In the Romanian territory, hemp plants of the same time, cultivated on a purposes. The native indiens used the per capita, of approximately 11 and flax have been cultivated large scale, from ancient times, for root of the plant to treat the venomous litres/year, unlike Hungary or Austria, since ancient times, for about food, clothing and other human uses. snake bites, and the sunflower oil was for instance, where the value does not These are the kinds cultivated in order used as hair conditioner. The flower exceed 7 litres/year, respectively 5 2,500 years; the Dacians to be harvested as food, animal and leaves were used for the treatment litres/year. depended on the help production feedstuffs, fuel or for any other of diseases such as bronchitis and in most aspects of their domestic economic purpose, for instance, for the rheumatism. The Aztecs and Incas Flax and hemp – traditional life. People’s clothing and all the use as paints, medicines and cosmetics. believed in ancient times that the cultures, in decline nowadays fabrics of the house were hemp- The main plants in the category of sunflower represented the sun and, based. technical plants are the sugar beet, the consequently, got to the point of Romania was well known more than Our country counted among the rape for oil, the sunflower, the flax and adoring it. The plant was brought to two decades ago for its tradition in the most important hemp and flax hemp cultures for fibers, tobacco and Europe by the Spanish navigators in the cultivation and processing of flax and producers worldwide until 1989. hop, soy. 16th century and from here, it spread hemp. If, in 1989, Romania occupied Back then, Romania occupied on the entire continent. the 1st position in Europe in flax and the 1st position hemp and flax Sunflower – the most important hemp culture, over the last decades, the production in Europe and the oil source In 2009, Romania held 20% of the total areas cultivated with flax and hemp 4th position worldwide. area cultivated with sunflower in the dramatically reduced, and the FlSunflower is a plant of great European Union, being ranked on the processing units were shut down. economic and feeding importance. By second position, following Spain. According to data provided by the Because the Indian cannabis is the content of fat substances of the Romania, Spain, France, Bulgaria and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural obtained from hemp, a hemp seeds (33-56%) and the particular Hungary had together 90% of the total Development for AGERPRES, in 2013, plantation implies bureaucracy quality of the oil resulted from the areas cultivated with sunflower. In 184 hectares of hemp and 1,893 and numerous controls. Out of extraction, the plant represents one of terms of production, Romania was hectares with flax for oil were the various existent species, the the main sources of vegetal fats used in ranked on the 4th position, with 16% of nationally cultivated, and this year 839 Romanian hemp has, however, human food, respectively the most the total. According to some hectares of hemp and 1,587 hectares the lowest percentage of important oil source for Romania. This estimations, in order to provide the with flax for oil. hallucinogenic substance in the plant has been used for over 5,000 demand of food oil, Romania yearly world, less than 0.1%. years by the native Americans, who needs about 1.2-2 million tones of The care for the environment and the used the seeds as a food product, and sunflower. Our country counts among interest in the Romanian ecological

28 29 Rural Romania – No. 12

People

Engineer Iosif Kiss, well-known consultant specialized in the establishment of walnut orchards in Romania

Iosif Kiss’s opinion is that a walnut less tobacco or alfalfa, two greedy maintenance, fertilization and business provides gains that are twice and selfish plants. Tobacco absorbs irrigation work ”, the farmer explains. bigger than those of an employee with from the ground all the nutritive average income in Romania. In order substances, and alfalfa wraps around “As regards the capitalization of the to establish a walnut orchard, the the root of any other plant .” nuts in shells, irrespective of whether investment varies from a few hundred it is national capitalization or an Euro to 10,000 Euro, money in which Iosif Kiss tells those who want to have export one, it is absolutely necessary the irrigation and soil fertilization a walnut plantation that, in practice, for the nut to be dried at a humidity systems are included. Luckily, in order extensively created plantation allowing the storage in safe to finance their business, the schemes are encountered (i.e. less conditions, respectively up to a Romanian farmers also have than one hundred trees per hectare), humidity of maximum 15%. A European funds available, by the tree in a classical system, semi-intensive, humidity higher than this creates the reconversion sub-measure included in intensive, super-intensive and in premises for the appearance of the National Rural Development hyper-intensive system. “ The moulds, of alpha-toxins, which may Engineer Iosif Kiss is a successful The keep away the unwanted insects. an increase amounting to 1,000 Euro. Programme 2014-2020. plantation scheme also directly affect the quality of the nut core and influences the life and the productivity implicitly may severely deteriorate business model. He set up of walnut A hectare of walnut orchard yearly No bank in the world can provide “The cheapest solution is to put one of the orchard: the bigger the the health of the liver of the one eating plantation bringing him good money brings you a profit higher than the such an interest for the deposited kilogram of walnuts to germinate, in productivity, the shorter the life those nuts ”, Iosif Kiss draws attention. and professional satisfactions. But current annual average salary in money .” wet send. When the walnuts sprout, thereof, but also the shorter the more than a simple orchardist, he is Romania. They offer shadow and they are planted. One kilogram of investment amortization period ”, Kiss Soon, Iosif Kiss is going to publish a considered the best consultant coolness on the torrid days. They are “After a 4-5 year period in which you walnut should be enough for one states. book from which the interested ones specialized in the establishment of not very sensitive to diseases and must wait until the planted walnuts hectare. It s cheap solution, but it has will be able to find out all the secrets walnut orchards in Romania, being pests. By their fruit and leaves, they produce fruits, the business turns into some disadvantages: the nuts will “For instance, in China – the necessary for the initiations and even a member of the Walnut take care of your health and your profit, and the orchard required fruit later and it is not sure that all of worldwide leader in walnut development of a sustainable business Commission within the International family’s health. They decorate and maintenance work which will only them will set. A little more expensive, production, upon the establishment of in the field of walnut culture. Society for Horticultural Science. In ennoble your house with their special take you two weeks a year. The but more efficient, is to buy seedlings the walnut plantations, the hyper- order to help those who wish to follow wood .” necessary work time in a year, for one from a nursery garden. It is ideal to intensive plantation schemes are “I encourage everyone having an area his advice, he created a website hectare of walnut orchard, is of about plant one-year old nuts because they preferred, with a density of 1,250 an agricultural land to consider the dedicated to the walnut culture: Then, seriously speaking about the two weeks, which means that an best adjust to the environment. The walnuts per hectare, resulting in an establishment of a walnut orchard, www.nucifere.com. walnut business, engineer Iosif Kiss owner of one hectare of walnut next step is make a minimal irrigation annual production of 15 tones of nuts because time passes anyway and the says: “ Few people understand that the orchard has then 50 weeks of free system costing only a few hundred lei in shells /hectare. This type of results will not delay to appear. An As a very efficient advertising to the investment in an orchard is an time per year for him and his family. and the orchard is ready. The first plantation scheme has the advantage old Chinese saying tells that «the best walnut, Iosif Kiss enumerates a part of investment for the future. For And it must be said that a hectare of nuts may appear in the first year that it gets maximum of everything moment to plant a tree was 20 years the benefits brought by this tree: instance, in the case of wood hybrids, walnut orchard made by the book from the plantation. When the trees the respective land can produce, but ago. The next best moment is “Walnuts are the most faithful each month that passes by from the generates an income of minimum reach maturity, you may use the land implies a little bit of attention an rigor NOW! ».” employees you will ever have. plantation of a hectare of trees means 10,000 Euro per year .” planting anything else among them, in the performance of the

30 31 Rural Romania – No. 12

Maria Zapca from Săpânţa, the pride of popular craftsmen’s fairs

Altough her house is somehow hidden on a collateral and non-asphalted road in Săpânţa, many tourists from the category of connoisseurs find, however their way to Maria Zapca’s workshop, whom they can find throughout the year weaving at intellectuals” who treasure her art the The craftswoman in Săpânţa really does Romanian Farmer’s Museum, being the “old-fashioned loom” – the loom most. “ In our village, all the girls weave, it all, traditional Romanian blouses, dressed in the Maramureş specific folk inherited from her mother and her they can sew, spin from an early age. If richly decorated wool blankets, small costume, and got into her car and started grandmother. you enter any house, you will see the bags, folk costumes woven at the loom or driving dressed like that. “ I got to dowry room, wherein all the things are woven by hand, the famous neck bands, Victoriei Square, where there are four Maria Zapca is never absent from the fairs made by the girl’s hands. Even boys those multicolored bears that women in lanes, and I had to get on the first one, of the popular craftsmen in Bucharest work, because there is no shame about it. Maramureș take pride in wearing at their the problem was that the traffic was very and other cities, even more so, she even The boy helps his mother with the loom, necks and so many other marvels. congested. But seeing me dressed like represented a few times the Romanian he spins. All the boys in our village spin Because her art has been rewarded with a that, all drivers made room for me, they the wool. They can tie the richly prize at the Romanian Farmer’s Museum, folk art abroad. And for her CV to be sounded their horns, two cars even decorated wool blanket, sew the richly space in which she had opened several complete, we must remind the fact that followed me and the young people inside decorated wool blanket, take it to the exhibitions in the course of time. her pieces of work wee used by the French were waiving to me, being thrilled. And Philippe Guilet in his haute couture waterhole (“waterhole” is a natural I, careless, as I was looking at those collection inspired from the Romanian “washing machine” using the force of the Maria Zapca discovered in her voyages young people, hit the red light. And the folk art, “100%.RO”. mountain river water n.r.). So much throughout the country at the craftsmen’s more the girls. This is what all women in fairs that those more interested in folk art police stopped me. But when the We found her at the loom too. “ Come in, the village do. Either with the loom, or are still city dwellers. “ I liked it that, even policeman saw me so nicely dressed, me come in ”, aunt Maria told us, “ but be gabbling to each other, spin the wool one if they do not have money to buy, in the excused me. And I kept begging: «Mr. careful not the wake my bantling up ” to the other... I have also learnt from a city, people ask me at least to allow them Policeman, please don’t give me any (this regional term means child, that very early age, seeing my mum. I was to take pictures or let them dress their sanction points because I passed the much we knew, even us people coming raised in a house of craftspeople and my children up. They are fond or our folk exam with maximum score ». And he from Bucharest). She welcomed us in the mum used to tell us that, since she had costume. Some buy for the children’s excused me... Wherever I go, I wear my summer kitchen full of wood shelves been orphan from a very small age, she festivals or in order to have something to folk costume. I am very proud of it and I painted in the colour referred to as learnt to sew from a neighbour and, at dress them up in on holidays. The take it everywhere with me. I feel very “Săpânţa blue”. In a cradle, there was the age of 12, she could already make the foreigners are so much more interested well in my peasant costume made by my really a child, but it was one made of entire blouse. And I myself cannot in what we make. They particularly like own hands and my mother’s hands .” plastic, and this because Maria Zapca remember a time when we did not have a our richly decorated wool blankets. The makes folk clothing for dolls too. “ Don’t loom in the house. We took it out only on simple man, from the countryside, Maria Zapca enjoys remembering the you wake my baby up ”, she also told us, Christmas and Easter. And seeing the laughs at them. «Why did you come to meeting with the French designer laughing. We also sat where we could and traditional Romanian blouse and the fair with them anyway? Who would Philippe Guilet: “ We first met in Cişmigiu then the compulsory ritual started, the working with the traditional Romanian buy them from you?», they say, and, as a Park, at a fair where I had a stall. Then one that no visitor of Maramureş can blouse, it has become so dear to me that, matter fact, smart people appreciate he came over to my house several times avoid. “ Well, now, have some pure eau- I must say, to my shame that I didn’t them. I already know when a person and saw my work. He made an order for de-vie ”. “ Is it really pure ?” “ There is no even go to school anymore. I went to comes to me to buy a richly decorated me to make a woven fabric for him, he other way! We do not put any sugar, high-school up to the ninth grade, but on wool blanket that he/she is either a told me how he wanted me to do it and because sugar costs money, but plums the tenth grade, I quit, because there was doctor, or a teacher, or some sort of he was very content. And I also made for grow in our trees for free .” a cooperative association in the village intellectual person anyway. Students his collection the beads that he covered a giving us wool and I, in order to weave also come and buy beads, small bags, Art from mother to daughter as much as possible, could no longer especially the girls, or wool socks. The skirt with. I very much liked what he study and work too, so I quit school. I countryside man says that he cannot managed to do with my neck bands and While speaking to us, the craftswoman’s used to sit all day long at the loom. I stand wool anymore, that it stings, what how beautifully he made the most of had could not rest for one second. Now never hated myself (got bored. n.r.). I nonsense !” them. When I was at the presentation of closing a small bag, now weaving another never get bored now either, as much as I the collection at the French Embassy, I on the loom, now proving to us how neck may work. Singing helps me with this As a proof of the fact that city dwellers are was stunned. This is the kind of people bands are made. She told us how she has too. Because, if I sit alone too much at the big fans of the folk costume, Maria Zapca we need, who can appreciate what is been weaving since childhood and how loom, I start singing, so as not to get told us that one evening she came out in a authentically Romanian !” she became known thanks to the “city bored .” hurry from an exhibition held at the

32 33 Rural Romania – No. 12

eating them anytime you wish, in any Useful and enjoyable: period of the year.

Mushroom and berry collection If you have never collected mushrooms and you want to try now, it is important to collect some information. Find out which the species of edible mushrooms growing in your area are. Learn how to distinguish them from the others. You may even consult a pharmacist or a mycologist. Never pick a mushroom just because it is good looking or smells well. If you are not fully confident that a mushroom is good, do not pick it. Because of a single mushroom, a snack can be comprised or even dangerous. If you feel nausea or have headaches after having eaten mushrooms, seek immediate medical assistance!

Important rules for mushroom mushrooms of about 100 lei every Hundreds of inhabitants of the collection: day. The wife goes most often. When villages from the feet of Bihorului • never try mushrooms that you it rains, the forests are full of people, Mountains wake up very early in the cannot identify, not even if they smell because there are many mushrooms morning in the summer and take the well or look well; her, in our area. We sell the good paths and peaks that only they now, Many of our fellow-citizens combine respect, giving them a local resident In order to survive, mushrooms need • do not pick old mushrooms or very ones and we cut and dry the other in quest for blueberries. There is the useful and the enjoyable, going on as a guide. a varied organic material. They small ones, or the ones that animals ones. And later we sell them too. The plenty of fruit, but it takes a lot of hikes in the forest to collect Mushroom collection is a much more usually grow in yards, forests, gardens have tasted from or pulled out of the wife also cooks some, but we are not effort to pick them. It is worth it, mushrooms and berries. Even money sophisticated occupation, due to the and on meadows. Feeding on plant, ground; big mushroom consumers. We would however, especially since many live can be turned out of this occupation, fact that many occasional collectors, leave and branch remains, • it is best to eat the mushrooms the rather sell them ”, Pop Constantin also almost exclusively from the sale even if only for the season. In fact, especially the city dwelling ones, mushrooms contribute to the day you pick them, as they deteriorate said. thereof. many of the local residents in the cannot make the difference between formation of the humus enriching the fast; mountain areas dedicate the summer the edible mushrooms and the soil. • never eat raw mushrooms; Aunt Maria, a housewife from “Here, in the mountains, it is only to collecting berries and, after the inedible ones, some of which are even • if you are a beginner in mushroom Dănești, in Gorj County, has an with this that we can earn some rain, they go after mushrooms, which poisonous. The scientific Mushrooms also need humidity and collection, it is not recommended for assignment from her children, who money, with blueberries ”, Constantin they either sell, or preserve for the denomination of the mushroom is heat. That is why they always appear you to go picking alone. live in Timișoara, to collect Bogdan says, a local resident of winter. Mycota or Mycetes. Therefore, it is no after a summer rain, as the expression mushrooms in the summer for cans. Budureasa, Bihor County. “ There are wonder that the branch of botany goes “they appear just like How much is gained from mushroom “After each rain, I pick several full many people in need, not working If you want to collect berries, you dealing with the study of fungi, for mushrooms after the rain”. A special and berry collection bags of 1st quality mushrooms, that and moreover having children that must know that you can find the instance mushrooms, is called characteristic of some species of is young, fresh mushrooms, to die must be sent to school. They survive raspberry that is good to eat from the mycology. mushrooms or relatives thereof, such The local residents in several areas of for. I cut and freeze them so that we out of this ”, he adds. beginning of the summer until as truffles, is their intense scent. That Gorj County, for instance, fill the can eat them in winter, when there August. Blueberries are to be found The mushroom reproduction mode is why dogs can sniff them from a six- woods in summer, in quest for edible are none in the forest. I also prepare In order to get money from blueberry later in the autumn, season also was a mystery for science for a long meter distance, and this even if the boletus, mushrooms that they then many jars of edible boletus appetizer, collection, the ones dealing with this appropriate for the collection of rose time. It is currently known that the entire body of the forest grows below sell or freeze for consumption in a Romanian vegetable-based spread, must wander for hours on the steep hips and sea buckthorn, and, in terms mushroom having reached maturity the ground level. winter. Many of them sort and sell which I send to the children, who live slopes of the mountain with the of time of the day, the popular produces microscopic spores that are them. For the 1st quality ones, they in Timișoara, so that they no longer backpack on. They get to the point tradition recommends the dawn, taken away by the wind. Once Mushrooms can easily deteriorate. get between 6 and 8 lei per kilogram, need to buy from the stores. They are where they pick each tenth of before the rime frost falls. A series of reaching the soil, the spores turn into According to the opinion of the other ones being sold for 2 lei a good, we are used to them. I know kilograms of berries per day. On such mountain boarding houses in Bucegi a network of thin filaments, called specialists, edible mushrooms which kilogram. They go picking from the people who do not eat mushrooms quantities, it is no wonder that, from or Apuseni Mountains, for instance, mycelium. It is from it that the body are inappropriately stored can youngest to the oldest ones. “ The wife from the forest for fear they could be the sale thereof, the pickers may gain recommend such an experience to the of the mushroom develops. This is the become. If you do not want to eat and the small child go to the woods poisonous. But we know them, and in a season between 8,000 and tourist in summer, also providing visible part of the plant, which we them right away, then dry and after each rain for a few days ”, we know which are good and which 12,000 lei. them with “logistic” support in this collect. sterilize them. Thus, you may enjoy Constantin Ţicleanu said. “ They pick are not .”

34 35 Rural Romania – No. 12

Ion Art Glass - the workshop in Șelimbăr where glass miraculously turns into jewellery

together the best specialists with whom he worked in the course of time. The firm currently has 27 employees, and the production is small series and unique pieces. Shortly after the establishment, Ioan Tămâian’s workshop managed to stand out as the best in the field in the country and it was not long before the reverberations crossed the borders. In the course of time, his pieces of work were exhibited in fairs in Germany, France, Italy, Greece, Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway and event the United States of America and Canada.

However, the artist does not deal only with the creation part. The love for this profession means modeling the glass yourself, to the rhythm of your own ideas and wishes. And, of course, in order to have a united team, one must experience the power of one’s own example: “ I realized that, if you want Glass, the plain amorph material the village where I was born, which is the business to work, you must control resulted from sand grains, close to Satu Mare, there was the glass everything, not stay in the office and metamorphoses in real works of art, factory in Poiana Codrului, the oldest give orders. I am glad that I learned as pulsating life and glitter, in the in the country. As a child, it is there a child to mold blowing the pipe too, workshop of the famous artist from that I first saw the glass makers work along with the glass makers, because Romania, Ioan Tămâian. And this and I enormously loved it. Even to this otherwise now I would be working, as because, at “Ion Art Glass”, the very joy date, I am convinced that the glass they say, «with another man’s hand». of creation, in its pure form, is blown maker is not just a worker, but a When you get involved, when you say: valuable artists. Others get to elite Glass jewellery and soul have the so-called artistic hand. Made through the pipes and molded. genuine artist ”, he confesses. «Do as I show you», people’s stores, and a rather small part to of silver, brass or copper, the glass confidence in you will grow .” collectors. Some of them even get to A special sector of Ioan Tămâian’s pieces of jewellery at “Ion Art Glass” are Established in 1990 with modest After graduating from the faculty, Ioan America, to the White House. Only a craftsmanship is represented by part of a special segment, presented not resources, the workshop in Șelimbăr, Tămâian was distributed to the Glass The Christmas globes, from few thousands globes are yearly jewellery. This time, by s special only in fairs, but also in especially Sibiu County, has become nowadays an Factory in Avrig, a beneficial step in his Șelimbăr to the White House, to produced at “Ion Art Glass”, because technique and style, developed by the arranged galleries in the country and enterprise known and recognized not training as an artist, considering the faraway America each object is unique in itself. The artist since faculty, the glass starts abroad. only in the country, but almost fact that, in the ten years of work there, painting is done by hand in Ioan towards the finishing of genuine golden worldwide. The one who made the glass he managed to collect information, to For many years, the globes, some of the Tămâian’s workshop, a genuine glass jewellery. “ I studied sculpture in high- Accessible in terms of price – talk in unsuspected colours and shapes understand the magnitude of the most loved Christmas accessories, are painting school practically operating. school and I try to express myself in considering the fact that a glass piece of is the child raised in the vicinity of the phenomenon on the worldwide scale, born in the hands of the glass making Ennobled with gold or silver leaves, glass processing still as a sculptor. In jewellery is sold somewhere between 10 oldest glass factory in Romania, the one getting, at the same time, to the point masters in Șelimbăr, to spread then they are treasures of refinement, faculty, I also studies painting, so now and 20 Euro – and spectacular in terms in Poiana Codrului, the sculptor high- of developing technologies, almost worldwide. Similar to real elves, minutely and passionately made. The I put them together. I have made of aspect, they represent a genuine school kid, graduate of “Ion Andreescu” hallmarking the creation and design under the guidance of the Santa Clause globes are not, however, a jewellery since faculty and I used to attraction for the tourists visiting the Art Academy in Cluj-Napoca, the sector. bachelor of fine arts – and, admittedly, preponderantly Christmas specific sell the, at the Fine Art Association workshop in Șelimbăr. Here, besides alchemist glass master, Ioan Tămâian. not having a white beard – the glass accessory. They are decorative objects Galleries ”, the artist says. the possibility of purchasing such Practically, an entire life dedicated to a Decided to take his fate into his own makers minutely work on these fragile ordered anytime during the year, in souvenirs, they can see “live” how glass noble profession. “ My whole life has hands and aware of his talent and objects intended to beautify the bug order to be displayed on tables, window Some get patina, conferring them a is blown and flows, with each glass been related to the glassware. My knowledge, he created “Ion Art Glass”, celebration of the Saviour’s Birth. Most panes or in order to enhance the beauty special, somehow mysterious note. No maker’s respiration, in a unique drop of father was a glass maker too. Next to a workshop where he managed to get of them get to art galleries, attended by of lamps. piece of jewellery is repeated, they all beauty.

36 37 Rural Romania – No. 12

Experiences

My farm The reconversion of the plantation, from Vintilă Brătianu to Valvis Holding Sâmbureşti Domains, Neagră variety has also been the emblem vineyard for the red wines in Romania introduced. Thus, the share in culture of the varieties for red wine production has increased from 50% to 75%. At the same time, white varieties – Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc – have also been planted in the areas favorable to them.

As the administrator of Sâmburești Domain, Cornel Popa, declared, the production for them, for better vineyard domains. As far as I know, reconversion programmes developed traceability, substantial investments the large majority of the wine in compliance with the EEC have also been made in the wine production companies in Romania regulations and with the Orders production sector. The wine cellar in have applied programmes of issued by the Ministry of Agriculture. Sâmburești has been equipped with reconversion and replanting or The amounts run via the reconversion new fermentation tanks and modernization of the vine domains programmes at Sâmburești are of maturation and storage cisterns with that they administer. It is, in fact, the over 6 million Euro, of which 3.5 controlled temperature. Small agricultural field in which the million Euro comes from the EU capacity oak barrels ‘Baric’ have been European funds have been used in a funds, via the Agriculture Payments purchased for the quality increase proportion of 100% ”, Cornel Popa, and Investment Agency. upon the aging of red wines. Fully the domain administrator, declared. automated pneumatic presses, The support and sprout growing cooling installations, as well as new Over the following period, the guidance system for the improvement bottling line have been purchased. management of the company intends of the agricultural techniques of Investments have been made in the to continue the planting of specific maintenance of the vineyard areas modernization of the storage spaces red varieties, but also to perform a and production management was for the bottled wines stored for aging. diversification of the varieties, revamped within the reconversion subsequently making the process and the plantation distances Following these investments, about reconversion of some vineyard between the rows were changed from 10% new places of employment have parcels with new domestic varieties, Developing its wealth on the fertile the reign of Neagoe Basarab, from the advice of the famous French 2.00 m to 2.20 m, for a better been created. The company currently such as Negrul de Drăgășani, Feteasca land of the hills situated at the foot of 1519. The village was in possession of oenologist August Joseph Ville, that it mechanization of the work. Another operates with 80 permanent Neagră, Feteasca Albă, Crampoșie, the Carpathians and up to the blessed the family of high chancellor had to clear the vines and replant objective consisted in passing the employees, and in the vegetation and but also with varieties of international waters of Olt, Sâmburești Domain is Rudeanu, historiographer of Mihai noble French varieties, the new guidance form from the low culture to harvesting season, work is also done resonance, such as Shiraz. emblematic for the vine culture in Viteazul. At the same time, the name management of the company also the semi-high culture. using temporary employees, around Romania. The geographic placement, of Vintilă Brătianu, former minister of decided that the key to success resides 200 day workers. With varieties to which prizes were in a location protected from winds finances (1922-1926) and prime in the reconversion of the vine areas The change of the vine driving and awarded in the international fairs, and refreshed by waters, the soil minister of Romania (1927-1928), is and the streamlining of the wine guidance system, as well as the The reconversion programmes did with a wide range of wines structure, the altitude and the south- related to these places. The domain production unit. enlargement of the space between the not have as a purpose the increase of appreciated by the specialists, but west oriented exposure of the hereof was transformed, upon the rows allowed the procurement of grape production per hectare, but the also by the general public, Sâmburești terraces, down to Olt River and collectivization in 1949, into State- Thus, in 2008, this process started on high-performance machinery, such increase of the quality of grapes, in Domains are part of the vine-wine allowing a tranquil ripening of the owned agricultural household. an area of 74 hectares, the replanting as: high power vine tractors, order to get special quality wines, production treasure of Romania. grapes, confer the uniqueness of 260 hectares out of the 470 ones cultivators, ploughs and rippers with a controlled origin character of this year and, implicitly, The domain currently belongs to belonging to Sâmburești Domains specific to the vineyard work, denomination. The emblem variety of Sâmbureşti the quality of the obtained wines. Valvis Holding group, which restored, being managed up to the present date. sprinklers with increased capacity, vineyard remains Cabernet in almost 10 years since the takeover, For the obtaining of red wines, vine string cutting and guidance “I think that the measure of Sauvignon, cultivated from the time The history of Sâmburești is old and the former shine, managing at the valuable varities have been purchased machines etc. At the same time, due reconversion of the old vine of Vintilă Brătianu, wine which, in filled with significations. The first same time to modernize and increase from France and Italy, such as to the introduction of different clones plantations has been and is available 1926, obtained the gold medal in the document speaking about the the efficiency of wine production. Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and of the same variety and to the to all the executive factors of the international exhibition in Paris. existence of this place is a record from As Vintilă Brătianu understood, upon Merlot, and the Romanian Fetească necessity of the separate wine companies holding or operating

38 39 Rural Romania – No. 12

By business Olt-specific ambition: With European money, CEGIM produces long-lasting furniture for the Romanians, but also for the export

period of time. The basic concept of sized enterprises”. A project amounting time. CEGIM S.R.L. is the following: “Why to 18,928 lei followed in 2008, General manager Mugur Vișcă, aged produce high-quality furniture with accomplished with financing provided only 34, graduate of academic economic outlet abroad, and why should the via the “Programme for the support of education, was not discouraged by the Romanians not benefit from high- the development of the small- and heavy going of the documents and the quality products manufactured in the middle-sized enterprises by funds, obstacles that appeared in the course of country? ” within the limit of the amounts paid for the development of such projects. He On the right bank of Olt river, north of facilitate the assembling at the clients’ for which the plant in Bujoreni produces the reinvested gross profit”. declared: “ It was not all pink, there were Râmnicu Vâlcea, in the Commune of domicile, each product is accompanied furniture elements is that of hotels, The ambition, seriousness and financial problems regarding the Bujoreni, a furniture plant provides 50 by the assembling scheme and the metal schools and kindergartens, representing determination not to sacrifice quality In order to access the European funds providing of the funds necessary for the places of employment or the residents of fittings. At the same time, the products a share of about 7-10% of the production have been the ingredients for success, to via the Sectoral Operational Programme implementation of the project, the areas contributes to the welfare of are accompanied by the certificates of volume. S.C. CEGIM SRL exports to which the comprehension of the fact that entitled “Increase of the economic depending on the current economic the locality, by the taxies and duties paid conformity and the warranty certificates. Canada, the United Kingdom, Austria accessing European funds is a “detail” competitiveness”, the management of situation, but everything was solved in to the Styate and local budget. and France massive wood chairs, but many time decisive in the evolution of a S.C. CEGIM S.R.L. resorted to the end .” And, as a piece of advice for the The three production halls are equipped also hotel furniture. business added. consultants within Vâlcea Chamber of fellow colleagues, he added: “ I S.C. CEGIM S.R.L. was established in with high-performance machinery, of Commerce and Industry. The total value encourage those wishing to develop in 1993, starting activity in 2000 with a Italian production, both for the The plywood and massive beech wood From the very first years of activity, the of the submitted project was of 303,807 this field to access European funds, so number of just 5 employees. In the 14 processing of the ennobled plywood, and products manufactured here are management of the company focused its lei, of which 178,710 lei represented the much more as maximal score is granted years of activity, the enterprise managed of the massive wood elements. The raw intended for the population with average attention on accessing funds, via the non-reimbursable financing (the for the creation of new places of to spectacularly develop, getting to the materials and finished products are incomes, as well as to administrators of national programmes which, at that Regional European Development Fund employment in the countryside. At the point of extending and diversifying its stored inside two well insulated metal restaurants, hotels, boarding houses, time, provided support to the small- and and the national budget). With the same time, I recommend them to treat production, of which a large part is construction halls. needing furniture at an optimal quality- middle-sized enterprises. Thus, S.C. obtained funds, S.C. CEGIM S.R.L. this fund accessing with maximum intended for export. price ratio. For example, the fact that the CEGIM S.R.L. managed to purchase a purchased equipment for the launching seriousness .” The production is intended both for the manufactured chairs have a use series of high-performance machinery of new products, as well as for the The furniture plant, situated on a 5,000 domestic market and for the external warranty of minimum 10 years is necessary for production, by a project diversification and the improvement of In the future, the management of S.C. square meter platform in the village of market. For Romania, the company significant in this respect. amounting to 171,838.70 lei, via the the quality of the existent products. CEGIM S.R.L. takes into consideration Olteni, produces serial furniture in a produces small furniture items: foldable “national multiannual Programme for the increase of the production capacity, wide range of models, colours and tables made of melamine fiberboard, The prices are accessible, to the extent to the period 2002-2006 of support of the Following the accessing of the European by the purchase of new high- utilities. All the used accessories come comfortable massive wood or foldable which the buyer wished high-quality investments made by newly established funds, new places of employment have performance pieces of equipment, the from the import. Except for the folding chairs, simple or sliding door wardrobes, Romanian furniture, aware of the fact enterprises and microenterprises, as well been created and the production penetration of other sale markets and tables, all products are dismountable, furniture for offices, bedrooms, kitchens, that he/she will not afford to make as of the modernization and revamping capacity increased, the quality of the the sale to new segments of consumers. packed in cardboard boxes. In order to living-rooms etc. Another internal sector another acquisition within a pretty long investments of the small- and middle- products being improved at the same

40 41 Rural Romania – No. 12

My community Entrepreneurial initiative supporting the plantation of oaks and acacias the silver teaspoon, attached in a loom- woven small fabric bag represents the creation of the craftsmen in Turda ”, Alin Prunean discloses.

Edible boletus honey for the health of the forest

The quality of the product is reflected in the price. A container of edible boletus honey costs 365 Euro, but the wish for the regeneration of the natural resources that the product is based on is to be found in this money.

“For each jar of sold edible boletus honey, we plant five oaks, bearing the buyer’s name. Thus, we try to compensate the use of the wood and to care for the environment. The mushrooms are picked from the forests in Sălaj, therefore we feel that it is so much more our duty towards nature. undertaken commitment. We want to people to understand the value of this presentation concept and the message is By promoting the area, we also try to afforest as many hectares as possible in species of plant. The acacia grows very the same as the edible boletus honey save it .” the future ”. fast, it has the power to stabilize the one .” degraded lands and it especially provides Since 2012, when the edible boletus Volunteers from various fields – nectar for honey production”, Alin But the common inhabitants of Salaj also honey was first marketed, 2,500 oaks students, employees of well-known Prunean states. He insists on this joined the initiative. “ They are very have been planted. companies, but also local residents from message being taken over by the bee proud of our product, they boast of it Sălaj area benefiting from social security keepers in the entire country, who owe everywhere. They come and buy edible “This honey is limited edition, we benefits, in the absence of own incomes, the forest and the environment the boletus honey that they then to the Since 2012, Alin Prunean conquered the Prunean remembers. produced 1001 containers, which is participated in the planting action. plantation of acacias, in exchange for the relatives who went to work abroad; food industry world with an exclusivist translated into a number of 5005 oaks obtained honey. many times, we plant five oaks at a time product reuniting the traditions and The man with initiatives to be planted; we have not sold all the The afforested land was chosen in the with the name of those to whom the crafts in Sălaj: bee keeping, mushroom jars, but we have exceeded the locality of Valcăul de Jos, on the area of “I perform my activity in Sălaj, so this product goes, in the Diaspora. People growing, wood sculpture, glassware and Alin Prunean was born in the Commune undertaken commitment, by paying the a former waste dump, subsequently is where I intend to focus on planting are content; they feel that they help in silverware. All these are to be found of Ileanda, Sălaj, and, in 1997, he oaks in advance .” covered with earth. “ We chose a place oaks and acacias, but, on the long run, I the regeneration of the forests .” under a single name: the edible boletus established the Agapis Foundation, with that needed help; it is on a slope and, hope to do this in the neighboring areas honey. However, it also has an the purpose of supporting the small Alin Prunean has chosen the oak for due to the rains, there was the risk of as well .” Locally, Alin Prunean comes with simple immediate effect on the regeneration of households in the area. several reasons. First of all, out of landslides. The respective hills solution for the rescue of forestry in the forests: each sold jar results in the gratitude, because the wood frame threatened to slide towards the village, Initiative with an echo Romania. He militates for the cessation plantation of five oaks. “We wished to provide everybody with covering the honey container is made of towards people’s households .” of the massive wood cutting and the chance of proving the value of their oak. Then, because this tree is the king The struggle of Alin Prunean and of the especially for the exportation of wood “It is a top product promoting Sălaj work. So the edible boletus honey has of the forests, even if its growing rate is a Acacias planted out of gratitude edible boletus honey for the regeneration under the form of finished product, not area, in particular, and the Romanian become a Transylvanian product of the slower one. for the obtained honey of the oak and acacia forests did not of raw material. “ But I think that the products, in general. LI launched it in bee keepers, of mushroom growers and remain without an echo. In Târnava most important aspect is the October 2012, in Paris, at the biggest of craftsmen. The glass container in “It has strong essence and it is resistant. Alin Prunean’s most recent initiative Mare, a product partner of edible boletus afforestation, tree planting. This can European fair of the food industry and which the edible boletus honey is sold is In 2014, we especially dealt with the aims at the acacia. Only this year 4,000 honey has already started planting oaks, also be done at a small scale. It depends we had enormous success. People spoke made by a glass master in Sibiu, the oak maintenance of the oak plantations. We acacia seedlings have been planted in even if the edible boletus here is replaced on each of us. As a popular saying goes about the edible boletus honey even on frame in which the container is placed are not going to stop here, we will Sălaj area. “It is still in Valcăul de Jos by jam. “ The partner from Târnava – you cannot say that you have lived the local television channel, TV5 ”, Alin is sculpted by craftsmen in Sălaj, and continue to plant oaks beyond the that we brought acacias. I want the Mare produces jam honey, but the unless you planted at least one tree .”

42 43 Rural Romania – No. 12

Leader to date

“Orizonturi 2012” Local Action Group: Tradition and modernity in the Danube Alluvial Plain

purchased within the project financed by equipment of a straw briquette forestry products” the project entitled “Orizonturi 2012” Local Action Group, manufacturing line, used as heating “Construction of cereal storage spaces in supplement the costumes for the călușari alternative. The type of activity that the the Commune of Bucinișu, Olt County” “Orizonturi 2012” Local Action 2,437,329 Euro were financed. After the economy and population and and will help the diversification of the beneficiary proposes also has, besides was financed. Group, representing a public-private approval of the request for the capitalization of the rural heritage” a activities of the folk assembly. the economic component, an ecological partnership established within the amendment of the Local Development project entitled “Purchase of folk character, as the product successfully The Beneficiary, Radu Mihai Certified LEADER Programme, was authorized in Plan by the Ministry of Agriculture - costumes for girls and boys” was The manually made folk costumes, replaces the fire wood used in the Natural Person, is an economic entity 2012. The partnership is made up of nine National Rural Development financed. The project beneficiary is the decorated with traditional Olt-specific countryside. The obtained products will established in 2008 as a family business, representatives of the public sector, 16 Programme, “Orizonturi 2012” Local Commune of Rotunda, where there is an motives will be worn at the local be intended both for household for the purpose of cultivating cereals, the representatives of the private sector and Action Group intends to initiate a new old center of folk customs and traditions. celebrations and festivals, substantially consumption and for the industrial one. Beneficiary starting the business with a four representatives of the civil society. selection call for Measure 121 – This heritage of traditions, customs, folk contributing to the preservation of the single low power tractor and a cereal “Modernization of the agricultural songs and dances, inherited from the immaterial cultural patrimony in the The project represents a profitable long- harvester, both of domestic production. The territory of “Orizonturi 2012” Local exploitations”. The available value of ancestors, is taken over and carried countryside. term investment and corresponds to the The main objective of the investment is Action Group is situated in the north- 142,387 Euro represents the differences forward by “Rotunjanu” mixed folk concept of sustainable development of represented by the creation of storage western side of Olt County, on the right resulted from the completion of the assembly, being made up of children and Straw briquettes – ecological the rural economy, based on the capacities adding up approximately bank of Olt river, at the southern limit of procurement procedures. young people from the locality. This heating alternative principles of increase of the places of 2,100 tones, necessary for the storage, the Romanian Plain (Câmpia Română), assembly is active on the territory of the employment and the additional incomes, drying and delivery of the cereals. having as boundaries the Danube River In order to highlight the specificity of the locality and presents shows both in the Another project financed on the territory by the encouragement of the non- The following are expected by the and comprising 11 communes in Olt territory of “Orizonturi 2012” Local localities situated in Olt County and in of “Orizonturi 2012” Local Action Group agricultural activities carried out in the investment: County and one in Dolj County, Action Group, as well as the investment the country. benefited from non-reimbursable funds countryside. By the accomplishment of - the improvement of the quality of the totalizing over 35,600 inhabitants. The made with non-reimbursable funds via by Measure 312 – “Support for the this investment, three places of processed products and of the quality of communes are: Bucinişu, Grojdibodu, the Local Action Group, we present three The preoccupations for the continuity of creation and development of employment have been created. The the food products, in full observance of Gura Padinii, Ianca, Obârşia, Redea, projects considered representative for the traditions and of the Olt-specific folk microenterprises”. project is still in progress, the payment the food safety requirements, of the Rotunda, Urzica, Vădastra, Vădăstriţa, the activity carried out up to the present costume started from as early as 2009 claim has been submitted, the value traceability; Vişina Nouă (Olt County) and Amărăştii date. when, within the “Integrated Project – The project entitled “Procurement of thereof being subsequently settled by the - the improvement of the security at the de Jos (Dolj County). Commune of Rotunda” 20 călușari machinery for the development of Rural Investment Financing Agency. place of employment and of the hygiene Preservation of the Local Tradition (group of dancers performing a Batrînca I. Marian Individual conditions in the production. Along the two years of operation, traditional Romanian folk dance) Enterprise”, whose representative is Cereal storehouse in Bucinișu “Orizonturi 2012” Local Action Group Within Measure 322 – “Village costumes were purchased. The Batrînca Marian, an enterprising young Contact: launched seven selection calls, following renovation, development, improvement traditional costumes for girls and boys, man from the Commune of Vișina Nouă, Within Measure 123 – “Increase of the E-mail: [email protected] which 53 projects with a total value of of the basic services for the rural with motives specific to the area, stipulated the construction and added value of the agricultural and Website: www.gal-orizonturi2012.ro

44 45 Rural Romania – No. 12

Amaradia-Jiu Local Action Group: Accent on the support of young farmers, small agricultural workers and the modernization of the villages no. 94993/December 5th, 2014 workers for the establishment of amending the local development plan, agricultural farms; the Local Action Group will still launch • supporting the semi-subsistence over the following period selection calls agricultural farms; on Measure 322.1 “Territory • village renovation and development; development, preservation of the • improvement of the basic physical traditions and crafts, as well as the infrastructure on the territory of the improvement of the basic services for Local Action Group; the rural economy and population” • stimulation of the entrepreneurs’ (30,000 Euro) and Measure 322 initiatives in non-agricultural activities; “Village renovation, development, • construction, modernization, improvement of the basic services for extension and endowment of the tourist the rural economy and population and accommodating structures; comprises: land preparation, culture European standards ,” the mayor of the capitalization of the rural heritage” • implementation of the cooperation settlement, culture treatment, Commune of Coţofenii din Faţă, (66,470 Euro). At the same time, a projects; harvesting, agricultural land Constantin Cârciumaru stated, legal project by Measure 421 • professional training, information and maintenance in good agricultural and responsible for the project. “Implementation of the cooperation knowledge dissemination. environmental conditions, use of projects” was submitted to the head irrigation equipment. Amaradia-Jiu Local Action Group office of the Local Action Group and it The Local Action Group also has obtained satisfactory results over the is going to be selected, in total amount beneficiaries who have already By Measure 322 “Village renovation, programming period 2007-2013, which of 20,000 Euro, of which 5,000 Euro completed projects financed by development, improvement of the basic is the reason why it proposed to are provided by Amaradia-Jiu Local Measure 112 “Young farmer services for the rural economy and continue its activity in the new Action Group, as partner, and the installation”, Measure 312 “Support for population and capitalization of the programme too, the National Rural 15,000 Euro difference is covered by the the creation and development of rural heritage”, the town-hall of the Development Programme 2014-2020. coordinating Local Action Group, microenterprises”, Measure 322 Commune of Coţofenii din Faţă, Dolj Colinele Olteniei Local Action Group. “Village renovation, development, County, modernized Coţofenilor Street, “Being aware of the current situation improvement of the basic services for which is part of the street network of the regarding the implementation status of The situation of the projects selected the rural economy and population and commune and connected to the the local development strategy of the and contracted within the local capitalization of the rural heritage” and national road DN6 (E70), the project Local Action Group GAL that I development strategy appears thus: Measure 322.1 “Territory development, amounting to the total value of 163,721 represent, I look with optimism at the • 10 projects by Measure 112, in total preservation of the traditions and crafts, Euro. Upon the submission of the reaccreditation of Amaradia-Jiu Local amount of 344,000 Euro; as well as the improvement of the basic financing application, the street was Action Group Association for the • 10 projects by Measure 141, in total services for the rural economy and made of earth and presented a series of programming period 2014-2020. I am Amaradia-Jiu Local Action Group approval for the implementation of the amount of 45,000 Euro; population”. degradations which made the car confident that the current project via represents a public-private partnership local development strategy, evaluated at • 8 projects by Measure 322, in total circulation difficult. In rainy weather, Measure 431.2 «Operation of the Local comprising 10 local public authorities, 2,850,000 Euro. amount of 1,273,428 Euro; By Measure 312 “Support for the the situation was even more difficult, Action Group, skill acquirement and 19 private members and four non- • 4 projects by Measure 322.1, in total creation and development of and the car going out on the national territory animation» will be governmental organizations from the Since February 2013 and up to the amount of 371,083 Euro; microenterprises”, Bușc Eugen road smeared the roadway with mud, successfully completed and that, from ǎ Communes of Brădești, Coţofenii din present date, Amaradia-Jiu Local • 2 projects by Measure 312, in total Individual Enterprise purchased a affecting the traffic. The total length of the experience accumulated so far, the Faţă, Goiești, Simnicu de Sus, Melinești, Action Group launched selection calls amount of 248,050 Euro; tractor for the providing of mechanized the modernized road is of 1,233 meters, implementation of the future project F rcaș, T lpaș, Mischii in Dolj County, following which it selected and • 1 project by Measure 313, amounting services to the rural population, the up to the crossroads with Măldărescu will develop with even better results ,” anǎd fromǎthe Communes of Dănciulești contracted 36 development projects for to 199,325 Euro; project reaching the total value of Street. the mayor of the Commune of Brădești, and Crușeţ in Gorj County. its territory. The final value of the • 1 project by Measure 421, amounting 48,300 Euro. The range of the Ionel Răcăreanu stated, the legal projects amounts to 2,448,530 Euro. to 5,000 Euro; mechanized services provided using the “The inhabitants of the Commune of representative of Amaradia-Jiu Local In January 2013, Amaradia-Jiu Local According to the General Rural • 1 project by Measure 111, amounting to tractor, along with other agricultural Coţofenii din Faţă needed this rural Action Group. Action Group obtained the operating Development Directorate -Ministry of 64,114 Euro. pieces of equipment and machineries infrastructure investment, following permit from the Ministry of Agriculture Agriculture - National Rural The investments aimed at: that the beneficiary already held or that the implementation of the project these and Rural Development and the Development Programme agreement • supporting the young agricultural it will purchase as it develops, ones driving in safe conditions and at

46 47 Rural Romania – No. 12

BIOFACH 2015, in Nuremberg Over the period February 11th – 14th, importance paid over the last period presented. News from the MADR 2015, BioFach2015 - the International to the ecological agriculture and the Exhibition for Ecological Products significant increase of the number of The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural will take place in Nuremberg operators certified in the field. In Development will cover, from its own Germany. parallel to the exposure of the budget, the costs afferent to the lease, products, conferences and other arrangement and equipping of the Rural Development (EAFRD), allocated over the period 2007 - Exhibitors from over 130 states will events will take place, intended to stalls and the transport of the samples have the opportunity to present establish new commercial relations, to Nuremberg for the economic 2013. This amount represents an absorption rate of 80.70%. ecological food and commercial innovating techniques and trends in operators. products. Romania will also take part the consumers’ preferences in the As regards the Agricultural Payments Euro allocation. we have, but the effects of this capital in the event, considering the worldwide organic sector being also and Intervention Agency (APIA), the Overall, over the course of 2014, the contributions are seen, and I think payment amount to 6.85 billion Euro two Agencies made cumulated that the performance recorded in the from the EAGF, represented a 88% payments, both from European funds agricultural sector over the last two absorption from the 7.79 billion Euro and from the national budget, years is due, to a great extent to the allocation, and, for EAFRD, payment amounting to 2.6 billion Euro. European money too”, Daniel Training sessions organized by the National Rural were made by the Rural Investment “These amounts which were actually Constantin, the minister of Financing Agency (RIFA), amounting introduced in agriculture and the Agriculture and Rural Development, Development Network, in Azuga to 6 billion Euro, representing an Romanian rural environment do not stated. Over the period December 8th -10th, Local Development Strategy. about. absorption of 74% of the 8.12 billion filly cover the financing demand that several training sessions, organized Module IV foregrounded leadership by the National Rural Development Module I envisaged the elaboration and the management skills. Network took place in Azuga. and development of the local development strategies. Module V was dedicated to public Excellence diplomas for the producers and The purpose of the training was that acquisitions. The public acquisition of providing the participants – Module II referred to evaluation- process, the main actors – the processors in the meat industry members of the local rural monitoring. The participants found contracting authorities and the communities – with a theoretical base answers to questions such as: what is economic operators– but also the The seminar dedicated to the meat the crisis situation that the meat capacity in the zootechnical and and a set of practical instruments this?; why do we need monitoring and regulatory agency and the system industry, organized on November production and processing sector is storage sector as well, but also find answering both the “what should they evaluation?; when it is done, how it is supervisors, as well as the principles 20th, 2014, a brought into discussion faced with. Daniel Dumitru Botănoiu, new fast reaction mechanisms in case do?” question, but especially the “how done and by whom? The role, that have to be applied in the public the business models applied to the Secretary of State in the Ministry of of crises, whether we speak of export should they do” question, when they objectives, themes and activities of acquisitions constituted the basis of producers of the industry in Romania, Agriculture and Rural Development, restrictions of the appearance of get involved in the elaboration of a the evaluation were also spoken interesting debates. as well as the production integration present at the event, declared: “The diseases or pests”. ones, in order to increase the Romanian producers operate on an profitability of the economic extremely competitive European Within the event, the official from the Aid scheme for the young farmers operators. market, which is nowadays affected Ministry of Agriculture and Rural by the Russian embargo. That is why, Development handed over excellence Young farmers will benefit, in 2015, This welcomed support will be over a 25% area, for a period of five The general theme of the seminar was the Romanian operators must find a diplomas to a number of 15 from an aid scheme which could get a granted for area comprised between years. The application of this measure the “Reinvention of the meat industry formula to better adjust to the companies operating in the meat payment increment for the 25 and 60 hectares and will consist in will be made starting with the spring from A to Z”. The market leaders in requirements of the market. I production and processing sector, agricultural land areas that they hold. the granting of a payment increment of 2015. the field insisted on bringing to the consider that, in the context of the which stood out on the domestic attention of the authorities the development policy of the Romanian market by the integration of approach of the problems of the agriculture, we must have another production as business model. These industry, in the current political and vision, namely the development of are: Transavia, Smithfield, Kosarom, economic context. each separate sector. We must focus Agricola, Cris-Tim, Meda, Caroli, on the integration of production, on Safir, Sergiana, CAI Curtici, C+C, These, together with the processing, so that Romania should Ferma Zootehnică (the Zootechnical representatives of the authorities and gain from the exports of processed Farm), Scandia, Aaylex and those of the professional associations, products. At the same time, we must Nutrientul. try to find solutions for the solving of increase the internal production

FRESH MARKET special edition – fair or organic and natural products On the last two days of the month of with A&M EVENT DAY, reunited specialized magazines and November, the special edition of exhibitors from Bucharest, but also publications. The participants in the FRESH MARKET - the fair of organic from other localities of the country, exhibition presented special and natural products - was organized from the following fields: ecological promotions and offers. The visitors in Bucharest, at Casa Universitarilor and natural food products, bio and could taste the culinary products and (the House of the University natural cosmetics, medicinal and tested the cosmetics, which they could Members). The event, organized by aromatic plants, apicultural products, purchase at special prices. Agro Bio Consulting in partnership ecological juices and coffee,

48 49 FĂRCAȘA NEAMŢ MOUNTAIN PRODUCERS ’ A SSOCIATION , OPERATES AS AN NGO SINCE 2002 AND HAS AS A PURPOSE THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MOUNTAIN AREA AND , IMPLICITLY , SUPPORT FOR THE AGRICULTURAL WORKERS

In 2005, in partnership with FAM-Dorna, we benefited For these things to become reality as soon as possible ROMANIAN PORK PRODUCERS’ ASSOCIATION from a programme financed by Heifer and thus the first and with normal efforts, we provide the interested step was taken for the materialization of our wishes. This people with our experience and the accumulated It represents, promotes, supports and defends the interests of the project started from the necessity of the preservation of knowledge. It was not an easy thing, but, if we were to associated members at the national and European level; the biodiversity of the meadows and thus we populated start all over again, we would do the same things. It protects the interests of the members in the relation with the the mountains with sheep, and, in order for this to come local and central public authorities; to support of tourism, we populated basins with trout, All we need is people who would place the interest of the we offered bee hives to the members of the association, mountain communities before the personal ones. To It represents the members of the association within the we trained professional workers in an agritourism give first and then to enjoy what they leave behind them, collaboration with organizations in the field, public organizations, boarding house and we identified and marked tourist to communicate, get informed and provide the entire federations, confederations, at the national and European level; routes. Agritourism in the mountain area must be a range of knowledge which, corroborated and based on It activates for the full freedom of action of the members, for the spearhead, as HIGH MOUNTAIN QUALITY agricultural correctly evaluated studies, to contribute to the welfare purpose of the development and the increase of the efficiency of products can be capitalized by means thereof with plus of the communities. Over the next period, we need to the activity thereof; value. reconfigure the priorities of the traditional Romanian It promotes loyal competition, within the terms of the law, for the household, to give it a fresh impetus in order to regain purpose of providing equal chances to each of their members; In our struggle to overcome our condition and provide the title of economical, social, cultural stability factor It promotes harmonized policies for a better management and our consumers with a high quality in dairy products, we and of spirituality of this people. The sale of values needs coordination of the market on the line; requested, in 2010, the concession of the meadows. In to be remade and the potential of all the areas needs to It promotes a fair competitive environment at the national and the same year, we started the modernization of the be put into place, as it is the only chance providing European level; sheepfolds, in compliance wth the food safety support to us. legislation, so that we implemented another concept of The ones thinking and feeling like us, people with ideas It provides the notification of the members of the association on FAMD, FMR, CEFIDEC and, in this context, the and advice, are asked to contact the elaboration and application of the legislation in the field; Commune of Fărcașa modernized eight sheepfolds on [email protected], because we are good It elaborates propositions to the public authorities competent for eight meadow parts. friends and partners on a long and difficult way to go. the enactment of measures of interest for the members of the Getting close to the New Year holidays, we wish you an association. We are now developing another project in partnership abundant harvest, long live Romania and may it bloom with FAMD, Heifer, SAB Elveţia, AGROM Mureș and as we wish it to. Contact: 5-7, Vasile Lascăr St., 1st floor, room 31-32, Bucharest, Romontana. This project aims at being a example of good 2nd District, tel./fax: 021-310.33.61 practices in the Carpathian Mountains with certification Highly respectfully, E-mail: [email protected] , [email protected] and attestation for traditional products, but also Camelia Alixandru, President of APM-Fărcașa www.apcporc.ro professional training correlated to the times we live in. Tel: 0753076754, e-mail: [email protected]

50 51 We invite you to participate in the Elaboration of the Magazine

Do you want to share from your rural development experiences for a possible publication in the magazine?

Photos and images Participation • The images must illustrate an experience. Guide

These indications are for orientation, for • The images will be sent as separate electronic files (high resolu- the homogenization of the contributions. tion >300 dpi and > 850 KB). The authors understand that the editorial staff may amend the received text, for better comprehension. • All the files containing images will be sent in.JPEG format.

• Author: He/she must be identified by • We are asking you to include a short title for each sent photo surname, first name and current occupa- tion. /image, as well as the photographer’s /author’s name.

• Introduction: A short introduction must be included to reveal the relevance of the presented topic. Letters to the Editorial Staff

• Article length: 400 – 800 words • The letters must be related to a rural development theme and not exceed 200 • Correct information: Present only words. information that you are 100% sure of and that you can support. Mention the source • The editors may intervene on the text, in of the information when you present data order to adjust it to the necessary style, coming from other institutions or organi- length, clarity and accuracy and does not zations. guarantee that all the letters will be pub- • Style: Speaking of a magazine article, it lished. is desirable for the text not to resemble a • When space is insufficient, the letters report. That is why, the following are indicated: which are not published in the magazine » Simple expression. can be published on the website of NRDN. » Relevant data to support the main idea of the article, and not all the details of the project. » Avoidance of the excess of acronyms. » The full denomination, followed by the acronym, must be inserted when it We invite you to send us your experiences, appears in the text for the first time. » Avoidance of comments and external photos, letters and articles at the e-mail references which may be controversial or misunderstood. address: [email protected]

52 OPEN TO THE FUTURE

Roots of a European country

CONTACT: National Head Oce of the Network Support Unit (NSU) 39-41, Nicolae Filipescu St., 6th oor, 2nd District, Bucharest, postal code 020961 Tel.: 031 690 0214, Facsimile: 031 690 0215 E-mail: [email protected] , Internet: www.rndr.ro

is publication was created by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Romania, within the project entitled “Establishment and Support of the National Rural Development Network”. Project co-€nanced by FEADR by Measure 511 within the 2007 – 2013 National Rural Development Programme.

December 2014 e content of this material does not necessarily represent the ocial position of the European Union. It is distributed free of charge.