Rural Romania National Rural Development Network

Issue 32 year II, June 2015

David Eugen POPESCU Investments in animal husbandry, based on SAPARD Lavender – an architecture and art platform Agri-tourism boarding house, a finality of the investment in animal husbandry „Romontana” National Association for Mountain Rural Development

ROOTS OF A EUROPEAN COUNTRY

Ministerul Agriculturii și Dezvoltării Rurale

UNIUNEA EUROPEANĂ Rural Romania – no. 32

REGIONAL OFFICES Support Network of the National Rural Development Network Contents

BRĂILA EDITORIAL 282 Independentei Blvd., 1st floor, postal code 810124, [email protected] Animal husbandry: A value in which we should invest...... 3 Tel.: 0339 732 009, Fax: 0339 732 016 CRAIOVA INTERVIEW 19 Libertatii St., The Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture, room L-311, 2nd floor, postal code 200421, David Eugen POPESCU, General Manager of the Agency for the Funding of Rural Investment (AFRI): Investments [email protected] in animal husbandry with European funding, based on SAPARD, 2007 – 2013 NRDP, 2014 – 2020 NRDP...... 4 Tel.: 0251 460 377, Fax: 0251 423 651

ZALĂU RURAL DEVELOPMENT 49 Kossuth Lajos St., postal code 450010, [email protected] Main measures taken for the development of animal husbandry...... 6 Tel.: 0360 404 056, Fax: 0360 404 158 Impact of the specific aid provided to cattle milk producers in the disadvantaged areas...... 19 TÂRGU MUREŞ 60 Mihai Eminescu St., postal code 540331, [email protected] PEOPLE Tel.: 0365 430 349, Fax: 0365 430 351 Agriculture: Family tradition and successful business...... 24 IAŞI Lavender – an architecture and art platform...... 27 Ciric Recration Area – Ciric Recreation Complex, postal code 700064, [email protected] Tel.: 0332 881 281, Fax: 0332 881 282 EXPERIENCES TIMIŞOARA My farm: Passion equals success...... 31 53 Take Ionescu Blvd., 2nd floor, office 26, postal code 300074, [email protected] My business: Agri-tourism boarding house, a finality of the investment in animal husbandry ...... 34 Tel.: 0356 460 982, Fax: 0356 460 983 TÂRGOVIŞTE 7A Varzaru Armasu St., postal code 130169, [email protected] UP-TO-DATE LEADER „Pe Mureș și pe Târnave” Local Action Group Association...... 37 Tel.: 0345 100 025, Fax: 0345 100 605 „Banat – Vest Local Action Group” Association...... 42 BUCUREŞTI 39-41 Nicolae Filipescu St., 6th floor, 2nd district, postal code 020961, [email protected] Tel.: 0316 900 214, Fax: 0316 900 215 MARD NEWS AND EVENTS New measures for 2014-2020 NRDP beneficiaries, as of July...... 45 The text of this publication is purely informative and does not imply any liability.

Additional information on MARD and NSU may be found online at: www.madr.ro, www.rndr.ro NRDN MEMBERS INTRODUCE THEMSELVES „Romontana” National Association for Mountain Rural Development...... 46 NSU, Publications Department, June 2015 Federation of the Cattle Breeders from Romania...... 49 ISSN 2393-123x ISSN-L 2393-123x Pro-Romanian Food Association – PRFA...... 51 © NRDN, 2015

The reproduction of the texts from this magazine is authorized, provided that the source is indicated. Printed in Romania.

Photo copyright: Cecilia Dinu, Sándor Kálmán, „Pe Mureș și pe Târnave” Local Action Group Association, „Banat – Vest Local Action Group” Association, „Romontana” National Association for Mountain Rural Development, Federation of Cattle Breeders from Romania, Romanian Food Promotion Association – RFPA

II 1 Rural Romania – no. 32

Editorial

Animal husbandry: A value in which we should invest Along the history, the products whi- for the local farms to develop both as family business, but with real impact ch have been of value for society have it comes to size and quality. Animal on the community. continued to change. Nowadays, many husbandry, about which we invite say that the worldwide need of food you to read in the pages of this issue We obviously did not omit to submit will make great powers of the coun- of our magazine, was also supported to your attention the measures taken tries capable of providing such resour- during the period prior to the accessi- at local level for the economic and so- ces. From this perspective, Romania on of Romania to the European Union, cial development of communities. In has potential: wide agricultural areas, but it has faced a higher intensity af- the current issue, we provide you with environment optimal for both exten- terwards. In this issue we recapitu- information from several communiti- sive and intensive animal husbandry late the efforts made under SAPARD – meaning an assembly of factors suf- programme and the two national rural es from Banat and Ardeal. ficient to generate a high-performan- development programmes, 2007-2013 ce agriculture. To these we must add NRDP and 2014-2020 NRDP, but also Last but not least, we invite you to also a rural area still well populated with by other supporting measures which meet a few of the associations which people who can implement any well- the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural are, not by accident, member of the defined project. Development has taken in accordance National Rural Development Network, with the Common Agricultural Policy. which are active in the animal husban- Investments are necessary in order to dry development process. Enjoy the capitalize this potential. Even though We also tried to provide examples of reading! the agriculture from our country has these efforts in a few stories of some also faced more difficult times after farmers who have developed projects Viviana Vasile, Team Leader of the revolution, being in a continuo- based on these programmes. They de- „Establishment and Support of the us transformation process, suffici- veloped large businesses or they con- National Rural Development Network” ent efforts have been made in order fined themselves to starting a small Project

2 3 Rural Romania – no. 32

Interview

and state budget contribution); for the they signed funding contracts in to- contribution afferent to 2015 annu- David Eugen POPESCU, General Manager animal sector afferent to this measure, tal amount of 34.5 million Euro. Also al session is of 205,776,952 million 330,346,319 million Euro were availa- under the Measure 112, 6,508 funding Euro, consisting in the contribution of the Agency for the Funding of Rural ble. 1,164 compliant funding applica- contracts were signed with beneficia- of the Government of Romania and of tions were submitted and evaluated, ries who have mixed investment pro- the European Union. 72,021,933 milli- in total non-repayable amount of over ject (vegetal crops and animals), their on Euro are assigned for the animal Investment (AFRI): Investments in animal 824 million Euro. Funding contracts total non-repayable amount being of husbandry sector. were signed with 229 beneficiaries, approximately 151 million Euro. husbandry with European funding, based on the non-repayable amount of the con- The measure regarding the support tracts being of 173, 4 million Euro. 551 Under Measure 215 “Payments for the for the set-up of young farmers re- payment applications from the benefi- welfare of the animals” a total alloca- ceives a total budgetary allocation of SAPARD, 2007 – 2013 NRDP, 2014 – 2020 NRDP ciaries, accounting for approximately tion of EUR 369,762,612 was achieved. 444,839,556 million Euro. The total 89 million Euro, have been authorized public contribution afferent to the Which were the first measures for payment. On May 26th, the European taken to support the farmers in session for 2015 for Sub-measure 6.1 Commission approved the is of EUR 111,209,889, including the the field of animal husbandry? Measure 112 “Setting up of young far- National Rural Development contribution of the European Union Which were the amounts recei- mers” of 2007-2013 NRDP has benefi- Programme for 2014-2020 pro- (90%) and that of the Government of ved by the farmers under this ted by a total allocation of 303,682,367 gramming period. Which are the Romania (10%). measure? million Euro, which was insufficient if measures supporting the animal we relate to the number of submitted husbandry sector? Based on the experience with the pre- David Eugen Popescu: The first funding applications, 22,494 compli- form of aid, which was provided to ant applications in amount of over 630 vious programmes, the new program- support the Romanian farmers, was million Euro. 12,901 funding contracts David Eugen Popescu: Under me is designed to support its benefici- represented by SAPARD Programme, were signed with the beneficiaries, the 2014-2020 NRDP, all those stake- aries with simplified working proce- under Measure 3.1 “Investments in total non-repayable amount being of holders interested in funding for ani- dures, online submission, continuous agricultural holdings”. 324,628,035 million Euro. The pay- mal rearing may access non-repayable funding application submission sessi- ments made by the Agency for the European funds under Sub-measure on, online acquisitions, data base with Non-repayable funds of up to EUR Funding of Rural Investment (AFRI) 4.1 “Investments in agricultural hol- reference prices, payment discount 500,000 could be received for projects into the account of the beneficiaries of dings” and under Sub-measure 6.1 upon invoice issuing and other mea- of investment in agricultural holdings. Measure 112 are of 283,914,473 milli- “Support for the set-up of young sures, all meant to simplify the acces- Only for the projects whose objective on Euro. farmers”. sion to non-repayable European funds, was the complete implementation of to provide transparency to the entire the European norms in the animal We can say that of all the young far- Thus, the budgetary allocation for process and to reduce the actual peri- and poultry rearing farms, the non- mers, 1,019 are livestock farmers (gra- Sub-measure 4.1 is of approxima- od of time allocated for the discount of repayable SAPARD funds could go up zing livestock, swine and poultry) and tely 1.2 billion Euro. The total public the payments for NRDP beneficiaries. to EUR 2,000,000. Also, it should be considered that the minimum allowed value of the project was EUR 5,000. were signed with the first SAPARD holdings”, but also under Measure 112 What fields of activity were beneficiaries for whom, until the addressed to the young farmers. considered? end of 2009, payments in amount of 236,839,730 million Euro were made. We also underline the fact that un- David Eugen Popescu: Investments der 2007-2013 NRDP, non-repaya- in the vegetal production farms and ble funds were granted for the animal animal and poultry rearing farms How were the animal husbandry husbandry sector also under Measure could be achieved. For this measu- farms supported in 2007-2013 215 “Payments for the welfare of the re, from 2000 to 2006, 259,072,564 National Rural Development animals”, measure delegated to PIAA million Euros were allocated, the Programme? (Payments and Intervention Agency amount including both the contribu- for Agriculture). tion of the European Union (75%) and David Eugen Popescu: 2007- the one from the state budget (25%). 2013 NRDP continued SAPARD Programme. The support provided Which were the amounts alloca- Thus, 3,029 compliant funding appli- to the beneficiaries was ampler, co- ted under these measures? cations were received and checked, vering more fields of rural develop- accounting for more than 404 milli- ment. For animal husbandry, the li- David Eugen Popescu: The budge- on Euro, the budgetary allocation be- vestock farmers have benefited of tary allocation for 2007-2013 period ing exceeded with approximately 145 non-repayable funding under Measure under measure 121 was in amount of million Euro. 1,935 funding contracts 121 “Modernization of agricultural 910,198,337 million Euro (community

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Rural development

Main measures taken for the development of animal husbandry Support provided to the animal husbandry sector under 2007-2014 Common Agricultural Policy

National direct complementary payments according to:

(1)- Government Emergency Ordinance no. 125 / 2006 for the approval of the schemes for direct payments and national direct complementary payments, which are granted in agriculture as of 2007, and for the amendment of art. 2 to the Law no. 36/1991 on agricultural companies and other forms of association in the field of agriculture.

The source of funding for the national direct complementary payments in the animal husbandry sector (NDCP) was ensured from the state budget under the budget of the Ministry of (2)- M.A.R.D. Order no. 295 / Register of the Holdings on a referen- animals for which the premium community regulations in the management system in 2012-2013 Agriculture and Rural Development, 2007 for the establishment of ce date, which cumulatively meet the field: within the range of the approved is requested should have been quota year; the modality of implementati- following conditions: budgetary provisions. The annual registered with the Agricultural - the applicant should have directly on, specific eligibility conditions quantum of the national direct com- a) the holding should have mini- Register on December 31st if the The agricultural producers men- delivered and/or sold a minimum and criteria for the application plementary payments (NDCP) in the mum three heads of cattle; year prior to the request of the tioned at art. 1, registered at the quantity of three tons of milk of the national direct comple- animal husbandry sector is approved b) the age of the cattle should have premium; Payments and Intervention Agency during 2012-2013 quota year. mentary schemes in the animal under the decision of the Government been of minimum six months; c) the number of ovine/caprine ani- for Agriculture with sole identificati- b) The premium for the decoupled husbandry sector, in accordan- upon the proposal of the Ministry of c) the holding should have be- mals for which the premium is on code, are granted premiums, once production scheme in the meat ce with the community regula- Agriculture and Rural Development, en registered with the National requested should have been ma- per year, depending on the eligibility sector is granted to the agricul- within the range of the amounts tions in the field. Register of the Holdings on the intained in the holding during criteria, for the following schemes: tural producers who cumulatively allocated from the state budget and date of requesting the premium; the control period, namely from meet the following conditions: The premium for the decoupled proof the maximum ceilings approved (3)- M.A.R.D. Order no. 215 / d) no debts to the state budget and June 1st until August 31st, at a) they hold a herd of minimum duction scheme in the milk sector to Romania for this purpose by the 2010 regarding the establish- local budget on the date of reques- the address indicated in the three cattle heads of minimum 16 is granted (per quantity of milk European Commission. The amount ment of the modality of imple- ting the premium. application; months old on the reference date produced and registered at di- between the maximum ceilings appro- mentation, specific eligibility d) not to have debts to the state or lo- of January 31st, 2013; The premium per animal head was rect deliveries and/or sales in the ved for the national direct complemen- criteria and reference terms for cal budget. b) the cattle holding is registered granted to the agricultural producers system for the management of the tary payments (NDCP) in the animal the application of the national with the National Register of the once per year for the ovine and capri- (4)- M.A.R.D. Order no. 920 / milk quotas in 2012-2013 quota husbandry sector are fully constituted direct complementary payment Holdings on the reference date of schemes in the animal husban- ne animals who cumulatively meet the 2013 for the establishment of year) to the agricultural produ- of funds from the state budget. January 31st, 2013 and on the da- dry sector for the cattle specie, following conditions: the modality of implementing, cers who cumulatively meet the te of requesting the premium. Direct complementary payments in accordance with the commu- a) the herd/flock from the holding the specific conditions, the eligi- following conditions: were granted in the animal husban- nity regulations in the field: should have been of minimum 50 bility criteria and the reference - the cattle holding should have be- The premium is granted for mini- dry sector to the agricultural produ- heads of ovine / 25 heads of ca- terms for the application of the en registered with the National mum three cattle heads of minimum cers, whether natural or legal persons, NDCP premium per holding was gran- prine animals, which have calved national direct complementary Register of the Holdings on the 16 months old, and also for the young who owned, reared and exploited pro- ted to the agricultural producers once during the year for which the pre- payment schemes in the animal date of requesting the premium; male and/or female cattle of minimum duction animals identified and regis- per year, depending on the number mium is requested; husbandry sector for the cattle - the applicant should have been seven months old existing in the hol- tered in the national system. of cattle registered with the National b) the number of ovine/caprine specie, in accordance with the registered with the milk quota ding on the reference date.

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The national transitory aid, the herd held/beneficiary/category of a) of up to 100% of the eligible costs heifer, buffaloes and equine the state budget via the budget of the as these subsidized services, according to M.A.R.D. Order no. the following categories: for carrying out the services of species; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural which are carried out by asso- 573 / 2014; drawing-up and keeping the ge- b) 9 lei for the animal breeds from Development. ciations or organisations of li- a) dairy cows; nealogical registers for the adult ovine, caprine and swine species. vestock farmers, accredited by b) dairy buffalo cow; Based on the national transitory aids breeding females which are The amount allocated from the state N.A.I.R. – National Agency for c) heifers from meat breeds and The amount of the state aid granted in the animal husbandry sector (NTA), exploited, consisting in the regis- budget, provided in M.A.R.D. budget Improvement and Reproduction their half-breeds: bulls from me- per animal head/year for the services premiums are granted to the agricul- tration of the data regarding the for the payment of the state aids in in Animal Husbandry), as follows: at breeds, cows from meat breed, provided at art. 6, letter b), depending tural producers who rear animals origin and performance of the li- 2011, is of 12,250 thousand lei. half-breed cows with meat bre- on the controlled production perfor- - the amount of the state aid for from the species of cattle, registered at near description, except those for eds, young males and/or females mances, which contribute to the de- The amounts allocated from the state the eligible expenses afferent to the Payments and Intervention Agency drawing up and keeping the ge- from meat breeds and/or half- termination of the genetic value of the budget via the budget of the Ministry drawing-up and keeping the gene- for Agriculture with sole identificati- nealogical register by the owner alogical registers is of maximum breeds with meat breeds; animal breeds, is of maximum: of Agriculture and Rural Development on code, once per year, depending on of the animals, for own herds for 30 lei per animal head/year for d) ovine/caprine females. a) 80 lei, in case of controlling the for the payment of the state aids in the eligibility criteria, for the following which no state aid is provided; the animal breeds from the heifer, milk production performances, 2012-2013 is approved on annual basis schemes: The specific aid per holding is a finan- b) of up to 70% of the eligible costs buffaloes and equine species; and 5 lei, in case of controlling the under the decision of the Government. cial support afferent to the European for carrying out the services to - the amount of the state aid for the a) decoupled production scheme in meat production, for the animal Agricultural Guarantee Fund, whi- determine the genetic quality of The state aid scheme in the ani- eligible expenses to determine the the milk sector; breeds from the heifer and buffa- ch is temporarily granted from the the animal breeds: quantitative mal rearing sector, according genetic quality or the genetic yield b) decoupled production scheme in loes species; state budget, via the budget of the and qualitative control of the pro- to the Government Decision no. of the livestock (COP) is of maxi- the meat sector. b) 12 lei, in case of controlling the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural duction performances in animals, 1179/2014 (coverage of the ad- mum 80 lei/animal head/year, in milk production performances, 5 The aid specific to the milk Development. setting-up data bases, processing ministrative costs afferent to case of milk production perfor- lei, in case of meat production, 2.5 producers from disadvanta- the data and estimating the ani- drawing up and keeping the ge- mance control, and 20 lei/animal lei, in case of wool production, for ged areas, according to the The amount of the specific financial mal improvement value, except nealogical register, tests to de- head/year, in case of meat pro- the breeds with fine wool, and 3.5 Government Decision no. aid is calculated on annual basis in Lei, the controls performed by the termine the genetic quality or duction control, for the animal lei, in the case of skin producti- 755/2010, Government Decision at EUR-RON exchange rate establi- owner of the animals and the rou- genetic yield of the livestock, breeds from the heifer and buffa- on, for the animal breeds from the no. 296/2012, Government shed by the European Central Bank on tine controls regarding the quality except the controls performed loes species; ovine and caprine species; Decision no. 298/2014 and to the last quotation of September, which of the milk, for which no state aid by the owner of the livestock - the maximum total amount of the c) 8 lei, in case of controlling the M.A.R.D. Order no. 573/2014; is published in the Official Journal of is granted. or the routine controls with re- state aid scheme for 2015-2020 is production performances in ani- the European Union, for a maximum gard to the quality of the milk, of 267,000 thousand lei for the he- The categories of eligible expenses ne- mal breeds from the swine specie. Within the scheme of specific aid gran- ceiling of EUR 30,000,000. cessary to carry out the services are: according to the provisions of ifer, buffaloes, swine and equine ted to the milk and beef producers The state aid, whose total maximum art. 27, paragraph (1), letters a) species; from the disadvantaged areas, they In accordance with the Government a) expenses for the payment of the amount for 2011-2013 is of maximum and b) of (EU) Regulation no. - the amount allocated for the pay- benefit of specific aid depending on Decision no. 755/2010, Government personnel of the breeders’ asso- 61,250 thousand lei, is granted from 702/2014. The aids are provided ment of the state aids in 2015 is Decision no. 296/2012 and the ciation/organization who carries Government Decision no. 298/2014, out the services; the quantum of the specific aid is cal- b) expenses for the procurement of culated by PIAA after completing the equipment, materials and ser- verification, by referring the ceiling vices; such expenses also include allocated on annual basis per cate- the value added tax, in case the gory to the eligible number of heads applicants are not registered for per each category, without exceeding: VAT purpose according to art. 153 of the Law no. 571/2003 on a) EUR 250 /head, for the category the Fiscal Code, as subsequently of dairy cows, amended and supplemented; b) EUR 187.5 /head, for the category c) the administrative costs incurred of buffalo cow females, in order to carry out the services; c) EUR 300 /head, for the category such costs also include the value of heifers from meat breeds and added tax, in case the applicants their half-breeds, are not registered for VAT purpo- d) EUR 6.5 /head, for the category of se according to art. 153 of the Law ovine/caprine females. no. 571/2003 on the Fiscal Code, State aid for the improvement of as subsequently amended and the animal breeds, Government supplemented. Decision no. 207/2011 The amount of the state aid granted per animal head/year for the ser- The amount of the state aid for vices provided at art. 6, letter a) is of carrying out the services provided at maximum: art. 16, paragraph (1), letters a) and b) of (EC) Regulation no. 1.857/2006, is: a) 20 lei for the animal breeds from

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of maximum 44,500 thousand system, of at least 0.5 ha for each females from local animal bre- supported the livestock farmers, who lei for the heifer, buffaloes, swine unit of mature cow (UMC), for the eds in danger of abandonment own up to five dairy cow heads and or- and equine species. animals from the heifer, buffa- approved under the order of the ganized in a form of association con- loes, equidae, ovine and caprine Minister of Agriculture and Rural stituted at commune level, by granting De minimis aids for the conser- species; Development; a de minimis aid for the procurement vation of the local animal bre- e) the undertake, based on a written h) they are members of a professio- of milk cooling tanks, in accordance eds in danger of abandonment, commitment, to maintain the with the provisions of EC Regulation according to the Government nal association. number of pure-bred breeding fe- no. 1535/2007 of the Commission of Decision no. 962/2013, shall apply males for which they receive de The quantum of the financial support September 20th, 2007, on applying the to the owners of animals from the lo- minimis aid for a period of mini- granted according to de minimis aid articles 87 and 88 of EC Treaty to de cal breeds in danger of abandonment, mum two years. In case the herd scheme provided at art. 1 is as follows: minimis aids in the sector of agricul- which cumulatively meet the following of pure-bred breeding females tural product production. The quan- conditions: a) 650 lei/cattle head; decreases because of illness, sl- b) 650 lei/equidae head; tum of the financial support was of a) they own breeding females of aughtering, death, sale, the owner c) 100 lei/ovine/caprine head; maximum EUR 5,000 for each form pure local bred in danger of aban- shall be bound to restore the herd d) 325 lei/swine head; of association which has requested donment, classified in one of the of pure-bred breeding females by e) 6 lei/poultry head; such aid, and it includes the costs affe- following species: (see the enclo- passing from the young animals f) 10 lei/family of silkworms. rent to procurement, installation of sed table) or procurement, usually immedi- the milk cooling tank(s) with a capa- b) the pure-bred breeding females ately, but no later than six months; De minimis support for the pro- city of maximum 1,000 litres/admi- are registered with the National f) they shall comply with the procurement of milk cooling tan- nistrative-territorial unit organized at Register of the Holdings or with grammes for the conservation of ks, according to the Government commune level, the training necessary the Agricultural Register, as the the local animal breeds in dan- Decision no. 859/2013; for using it (them) and also to provi- case may be; ger of abandonment drawn-up ding service for a period of 12 months The transition period regarding the No. of adult c) the pure-bred breeding females by the professional associations, as of installation. Seq. Specie Breed breeding are registered with the genealogi- whose objective is to conserve the conformity of raw milk and proces- no. females cal register of the breed and in the animal genetic resources appro- sing of compliant and incompliant “Procurement by the agricultural pro- 1. HEIFERS GREY STEPPE 67 breed conservation programme; ved by the National Agency for milk, without separation in processing ducers of breeding rams from speci- d) they use an agricultural area lo- Improvement and Reproduction units, was completed on December alized breeds and heifers from spe- 2. BUFFALOES ROMANIAN BUFFALO 289 cated on the territory of Romania, in Animal Husbandry (NAIR); 31st, 2013. In order to ensure that the cialized breeds” de minimis scheme, ȚIGAIE RUSTY VARIETY 1120 RAȚCA (WALLACHIAN WITH which can be identified in the in- g) they are included in the list of hygiene requirements are met and according to the Government Decision 3680 tegrated management and control owners of pure-bred breeding the supply is concentrated, M.A.R.D. no. 873/2014: is meant to increase the CORKSCREW HORNS) efficiency of the activity of cattle bree- BOTOȘANI KARAKUL 2342 ding sector by reorienting their exploi- PALAS MERINOS 4364 SUSENI MERINOS 300 tation by procuring specialized breeds 3. OVINE for meat and milk production. By pro- TRANSYLVANIA MERINOS 268 curing animals from specialized bre- CLUJ MERINOS 203 eds, the genetic value of the animals PALAS MEAT BREED 635 is improved for the development of the PALAS DAIRY BREED 224 meat and milk production, and also of TELEORMAN ȚIGAIE WITH BLACK 3438 their quality, by extending the official HEAD control of the production and testing BANAT WHITE 1002 4. CAPRINE of reproducers depending on their des- CARPATHIAN 1661 cendants. The amount of the finan- BAZNA 22 5. SWINE cial support was of maximum 5,000 MANGALIȚA 55 lei/heifer head from the specialized FURIOSO NORTH STAR 36 breed acquired based on the provisi- HUȚUL 83 ons of the Government Decision no. BUCOVINA HORSE 8 873/2014, and of maximum 2,500 lei/ GIDRAN 35 ram head of specialized breed. EQUIDAE 6. LIPIȚAN 260 (horses) Acknowledgement of the organizati- SHAGYA 68 ons of producers from the milk and NONIUS 38 dairy product sector, according to the ROMANIAN SPORTIVE HORSE 52 Law no. 297/2013, the Government SEMIGREU 62 Decision no. 441/2014 and M.A.R.D. 7. HENS GÂT GOLAȘ DE TRANSILVANIA 457 Order no. 1186 of July 21st, 2014: 8. SILKWORMS BOMBYX MORI 4250

Law no. 566/2004 on agricultural

10 11 Rural Romania – no. 32

cooperatives regulates the establish- organisations for agri-food products) dairy products) or of their associ- Aids and forms of The premium for the decoupled pro- buffalo cows ment and operation of agricultural co- and measures were taken for the es- ations is regulated. support provided under duction scheme in the meat sector is - Coupled support for ovine operatives, but, in Romania, there is a tablishment of interprofessional orga- granted to the agricultural produ- Thus, as of March 20th, 2014, any 2015-2020 Common animals single functional collection cooperati- nisations (APIO). Nothing has concre- raw milk delivery on the territory of cers who own in their holdings mi- - Coupled support for caprine ve established in 2010, which delivers tized until now, because neither the Romania by a producer to the first Agricultural Policy nimum three heads of ovine of mi- animals milk to a processer. The cooperatives producers, nor the processers do not nimum 16 months of age on the re- buyer of raw milk must be subject to a 1. The National Transitory Aids of agricultural producers benefit by seem to be fully aware of the efficiency ference date of January 31st, 2013, The coupled support for dairy cows written contract between parties or the (NTA) are provided to the farmers an additional score in the assessment of such organisation in relation to the first buyers must make a written offer registered in the National Register of shall be provided for 10 to 250 heads who breed animals from cattle, of dairy cows, inclusively, per be- of the projects for which they request retail segment. In Romania, the retail of contracting. The contracts, accor- the Holdings (NRH), and also for the ovine/caprine species, as they are neficiary, from the specie of heifers funding under E.A.F.R.D. segment is very strong, and it is possi- ding to the Government Decision no. young cattle males and/or females of provided at art. 1, paragraph (3) from the specialized and mixed bre- ble for the producers and processers 441/2014, should meet certain con- minimum seven months of age exis- and art. 12, paragraphs (1) and eds contained in the list drawn-up by In Romania, although the legal fra- to feel discouraged by the pressure tent conditions, being concluded pri- ting in the holding on the reference (2) of the Government Emergency “Phd. Professor G. K. Constantinescu” mework was created (Government exercised by it. or to delivery, they should include ba- date of January 31st, 2013, and they Ordinance no. 3/2015, and al- National Agency for Im-provement Emergency Ordinance no. 103/2008 sic elements in order to contribute to are newly registered. so at art. 61 of the OMARD no. and Reproduction in Animal on the establishment of interprofes- Under the Law no. 297/2013 on the the consolidation of the responsibility 619/2015, registered with PIAA Husbandry and approved under the sional organizations for agri-food establishment of contractual relations of the operators from the dairy pro- The premium for the coupled produc- with sole identification code, order of the Minister of Agriculture products, Government Decision no. from the milk and dairy product sec- duct chain, to the improvement of pri- tion scheme in the ovine/caprine sec- depending on the eligibility con- and Rural Development, which have 1068/2009 on the organization and tor, and also the acknowledgement of ce distribution and to the adaptation tor is granted to the agricultural pro- ditions, for the following schemes: calved at least once until the due date operation of interprofessional organi- the organisation of producers from the of the supply to the demands and also ducers who own in the holdings mi- to the avoidance of certain unfaithful for the submission of the applications, sations for agri-food products and for milk and dairy product sector: a) decoupled production scheme nimum 50 heads of ovine females/25 commercial practices. and have at least one product registe- the approval of the representation cri- in the milk sector heads of caprine females of minimum - the mandatory use of written con- red with the National Register of the teria, the procedures for granting and b) decoupled production scheme one year of age on March 31st of the tracts, concluded prior to delivery Also, by acknowledging the organisa- Holdings, if certain conditions are cu- withdrawing the acknowledgement, in the in the meat sector for minimum six months, is regu- tions of producers consisting only in year in which the premium is appli- mulatively met with regard to: milk of controlling and monitoring them, lated, contributing to the increase farmers who produce dairy products c) decoupled production scheme ed for. delivery for a minimum period of six and also for assigning tasks, M.A.R.D. of responsibility of the operators or of their associations, the clauses of in the ovine/caprine sector. 2. The coupled support is provided months; the cows must be maximum Order no. 143/2010 on the structure eight years of age on the due date for from the dairy product chain, the contracts, especially the prices, may from the European Agricultural and operation of the Committee for be jointly negotiated so as to ensure to The premium for the decoupled pro- the submission of the applications; the to the improvement of price dis- Guarantee Fund as of 2015, as Interprofessional Organisations for the farmers from the dairy product sec- duction scheme in the milk sector is minimum herd for which aid is requ- tribution and to the adaptation follows: Agri-food Products, and also the proof the supply to demand, and al- tor an equitable living standard, and granted to the agricultural producers ested; identification and registrati- - Coupled support for dairy cedures for the acknowledgement, mo- so to the avoidance of unfaithful their negotiation power in relation to who have directly delivered and/or on of the dairy cows in the NRH; hol- nitoring and control, acknowledge- commercial practices; the dairy product processing units to sold a quantity of minimum 3 tons cows ding the updated individual register of ment withdrawal, extension of inter- - the acknowledgement of the orga- consolidate, in this way determining a of milk in 2012-2013 reference quota - Coupled support for meat the holding; withholding period of six professional agreements and dele- nisations of producers (consisting more equitable distribution of the ad- year and they are newly registered heifers months as of the due date for the sub- gation of tasks for interprofessional only in farmers who produce ded value along the supply chain. in the system. - Coupled support for dairy mission of the payment application;

12 13 Rural Romania – no. 32

six months as of the due date for the submission of the payment application; identification and registration of the dairy buffalo cows with NRH; updated individual register of the holding; regis-tration of the milk buffalo cows with the genealogical register of the breed.

The coupled support for ovine animals is provided for a herd between 150 and 600 heads of ovine females and/or breeding rams per benefi-ciary, which are of minimum one year of age on the date of submitting the application, if the following conditions are cumulatively met: with-holding period of 100 days as of the due date for the submission of the payment application, to the address of the holding provided in the aid application; identification and registration with NRH on the date of submitting the application; individual register of the holding filled-in in accordance with the provisions of EC Regulation no. 21/2004; the registration of the dairy cows with the certification of the meat breed/half- ovine females and/or breeding rams for the submission of the applications; females, and six years, in the case of agricultural companies and other genealogical register of the breed. The breeds from the meat breeds; certifi- from the holding, for which the bene- registration of the number of ovine fe- the breeding he-goats, on the due date forms of association, the fol-lowing applicants with a herd of more than cation of possible exits from the herd; ficiary requests specific aid, to have males and/or breeding rams with the for the submission of the applications; are also provided: 250 heads of dairy cows benefit by vo- the period during which the animals the maximum age of eight years, in the genealogical register of the breed. The registration of the number of capri- luntary coupled production support in are held to be of at least eight months - the scheme for the small farmers, case of the females, and six years, in applicants with more than 600 heads ne females and/or breeding he-goats the animal husbandry sector (CPSAH) eight months as of the date of their en- who will receive an annual pay- the case of the rams, on the due date of ovine females and/or breeding rams with the genealogical register of the calculated at a level of maximum 250 try into holding and until their exit/ ment of maximum EUR 1250, benefit by CPSAH calculated at the le- breed. The applicants with more than dairy cows; until the date of submitting the appli- depending on the area and/or vel of maximum 600 heads of ovine 500 heads of female caprine and/or cation; the withholding period is of number of eligible animals whi- females and/or breeding rams. breeding he-goats benefit by CPSAH The coupled support for the meat hei- six months as of the due date for the ch they hold in the holding, as a calculated at the level of maximum 500 fers shall be provided for a total num- submission of the payment applicati- result of submitting the sole pay- The coupled support for caprine ani- head of caprine females and/or bree- ber of 10 to 250 heads per beneficiary, on; registration of the meat cows and/ ment application in 2015. The ding he-goats; heifers from meat breeds contained in or of the cows half-breed with meat mals is granted for a number of 50 to payment granted under this sche- the list drawn-up by “Phd. Professor G. breeds and/or the breeding bulls with 500 heads of caprine females and/or me replaces the total amount of K. Constantinescu” National Agency the genealogical register of the breed. breeding he-goats of maximum one The quantum per animal head is esta- the payments to be allocated to for Improvement and Reproduction The applicants with a herd of more year off age on the date of submitting blished under a regulatory act depen- the farmer every year, which in- in Animal Hus-bandry and approved than 250 heads of meat heifers be- the application, if the following condi- ding on the eligible number of animals. clude the scheme of sole payment under the order of the Minister of nefit by SCZ (Coupled Support Paid tions are cumulatively met: withhol- The amounts shall be paid for the eli- per area, ANT, redistributive pay- Agriculture and Rural Development, in the Sector of Animal Husbandry) ding period of 100 days as of the due gible animals, which are the scope of ment, payment for greening and, if conditions are cumulatively met calculated at the level of maximum date for the submission of the payment the application from the previous year. as the case may be, the payment with regard to: the meat cows and/or 250 heads of meat heifers; application, to the address of the hol- for the young farmers and the the cows half-breed with meat bre- ding provided in the aid application; As an exception, for 2015, the conditi- coupled support. eds and/or the breeding bulls from The coupled support for the dairy identification and registration with on for the registration with the genea- - rural development compensation the holdings for which the beneficiary buffalo cows is provided for maximum NRH on the date of submitting the logical register of the breed for cattle, measures applicable on the agri- re-quests specific aid must be of ma- 100 heads of dairy buffalo cows per application; individual register of the ovine/caprine species is not mandatory. cultural land for the farmers from ximum 12 years of age in the case of beneficiary – females from buffaloes holding filled-in in accordance with the mountain area, provided in the cows and of six years in the case specie, which have calved at least once the provisions of EC Regulation no. In accordance with the Emergency 2014-2020 NRDP, which include: of the breeding bulls on the due date until the due date for the submission 21/2004; the caprine females and/or Ordinance no. 3 of March 18th, 2015, a) Measure 10 – agri-environ- for the submission of the applications; of the applications, and they have at the breeding he-goats from the hol- for the approval of the payment sche- ment and climate; identification and registration of the least one product registered in NRH, ding, for which the beneficiary requ- mes that apply in agriculture during b) Measure 11 – organic farming; number of animals in the NRH; upda- if conditions are cumulatively met ests specific aid, to have the maximum 2015-2020 and for the amendment c) Measure 13 – areas dealing wi- ted individual register of the holding; with regard to: withholding period of age of eight years, in the case of the of art. 2 of the Law no. 36/1991 on th natural constraints.

14 15 Rural Romania – no. 32

the holdings, and encouraging the yo- and the improvement of the quality of and EUR 300,000 for the small The investment must be classified at ung farmers to make investments. the fixed assets. farms from the animal husbandry least as one of the eligible actions pro- sector; vided under the sub-measures, among Scope of the measure: The beneficiaries of sub-measure - for the projects which provide the which we mention as follows: a) Improvement of the management 4.1 are farmers, except the unauthori- creation of integrated food chains, (1) Investments in the establishment, of the agricultural holding; zed natural persons; the cooperatives maximum EUR 2,000,000 and extension and/or modernization b) Improvement of the general per- (agricultural cooperatives and agricul- EUR 400,000 for the small farms; of the animal husbandry farms, formances of the agricultural tural cooperative companies), groups including efficient technologies holding; of producers, established based on the In case of farms with economic size for the decrease of pollution and c) Adaptation of production to the valid national legislation, which serve over 500,000 SO, the non-repayable compliance with the standards of market demands; the interests of the members. public support shall be of 30%, and it the European Union and with the d) Compliance with community shall not exceed: ones for the adequate stor-age/ norms, especially with the cross- The non-repayable support shall management of manure in the compliance, labour protection, be provided as follows: - for the projects which provide areas where this requirement is in environment protection and sani- simple procurements, maximum the process of application. tary and veterinary requirements. In the case of the farms having the EUR 500,000; (2) Investments in the processing of the agricultural products at farm The beneficiary of Measure 112 economic size of up to 500,000 SO - for the projects which provide level, and also investments for are farmers who: (standard production value), the non- constructions and installation, marketing purpose (like the stores repayable public support shall be of maximum EUR 1,500,000 for the a) are less than 40 years old and at the farm’s gate or the food ca- 50% of the total eligible expenses and animal husbandry sector; they set-up for the first time in the it shall not exceed: ravans by which own agricultural agricultural holdings in the capa- - for the projects which provide the products shall be marketed). The city of leaders (managers) of the -- for the projects which provide creation of integrated food chains: processing investments at farm holding; simple procurements, maximum maximum EUR 2,000,000; level shall be made only together b) have or undertake to acquire EUR 500,000 and EUR 100,000 with the investments in the mo- certain professional skills and for the small farms; In the case of cooperatives and groups dernization/development of the qualifications in relation to the - for the projects which provide of producers, the support shall be of farm (considered to be projects activity which they are going to constructions and installation, 50%, without exceeding maximum focused on creating an integrated carry out; maximum EUR 1,500,000 for EUR 2,000,000, irrespective of the food chain and on adding value at c) provide a business plan for the the animal husbandry sector type of investment. farm level). development of the agricultural activities within the holding; d) are members of the farmer’s family, who have worked more than 50% of their working period at the farm (not necessarily at the farm of the farmer’s family), at least 12 months prior to setting up on his own.

2014-2020 NRDP

Measure 4. „Investments in phy- ∙ Improvement of the manage- 2007 – 2013 NRDP sical assets”, ment of agricultural holdings by Measure 112. Set-up of young renewing the generation of their Sub-measure 4.1. „Investments farmers managers, without increasing the in agricultural holdings”: number of active population em- General objectives ployed in agriculture. The scope of this sub-measure is to ∙ Improvement and increase of Specific objectives support the investments for the in- competitiveness of agricultural crease of competitiveness of agricul- Increase of the income of the holdings sector by promoting the set-up of tural holdings by providing to them managed by young farmers. young farmers and by supporting efficient machineries and equipment the pro-cess of modernization and in relation to the current agricultural Operational objectives compliance with the requirements structure, and also the investments for for environment protection, hygi- Increase of the number of young far- the modernization of the farm (especi- ene and welfare of the animals, mers who start, for the first time, an ally the ones of average size and small safety at the workplace; agricultural activity as managers of and average-size farm associations)

16 17 Rural Romania – no. 32

The projects which are also focused Objectives of sub-measure 4.2: - the cooperatives (agricultural co- on investments for the processing/ operative companies, capitalising Impact of the specific aid provided to cattle marketing of the agricultural products - establishment and/or moder- cooperative companies, agri- shall contain, as majority component, nization of the processing and cultural cooperatives), groups marketing units; milk producers in the disadvantaged areas the investment in the primary agricul- of producers established based on the valid national legislation, tural production (>50% of the eligible - implementation of new technolo- which serve the interest of the The specific aid for the milk produ- Within the specific aid scheme, the In accordance with the Government value of the project). gies for the development of new products; members. cers from the disadvantaged areas cow milk and beef producers from the Decision no. 755/2010, Government was granted between 2010 and 2014, disadvantaged areas benefit by specific - application of environment pro- The non-repayable support shall Decision no. 296/2012 and the Sub-measure 4.2 – “Support according to the Government Decision aid depending on the number of ani- be of 50% of the total eligible ex- for investments in processing/ tection measures, including the mals held/beneficiary/category from Government Decision no. 298/2014, penses for SMEs and groups of no. 755/2010, Government Decision marketing the agricultural decrease of energy consumption the following categories: the quantum of the specific aid is cal- producers/cooperatives; 40% for no. 296/2012, Government Decision products”: and greenhouse gas emissions; culated by PIAA after completing the other enterprises; no. 298/2014 and M.A.R.D. Order no. a) dairy cows; - promotion of investments for the 573/2014, in accord-ance with the pro- b) dairy buffalo cow; verification, by referring the ceiling production and use of the energy The scope of this sub-measure is to The non-repayable support shall not visions of the article no. 68, paragra- c) heifers from meat breeds and allocated on annual basis per cate- from renewable sources; ph (1), letter (b) of (EC) Regulation support the enterprises which make exceed: their half-breeds: bulls from me- gory to the eligible number of heads tangible and intangible investments - increase of the number of jobs; no. 73/2009. at breeds, cows from meat breed, per each category, without exceeding: in order to process and market the • EUR 1,000,000 / project for SME; half-breed cows with meat bre- The beneficiaries of sub-measu- agricultural products contained at • EUR 1,500,000 / project for other Specific objectives: eds, young males and/or females a) EUR 250 /head, for the category re 4.2 are: from meat breeds and/or half- Annex I to the Treaty Establishing the enterprises; - maintaining the income of the be- of dairy cows, breeds with meat breeds. European Community, except the fish - the enterprises defined according • EUR 2,500,000 / project for the neficiaries at a level adequate to b) EUR 187.5 /head, for the category products. to the valid national legislation; investments which lead to an in- ensure a decent living standard in It is observed that the number of be- of buffalo cow females, tegrated food chain, cooperative the disadvantaged areas; neficiaries and the number of heads c) EUR 300 /head, for the category associative forms and groups of - continuing the national tradition for which the specific aid was gran- producers. of breeding the species of buffa- ted in 2014 have increased as com- of heifers from meat breeds and Sub-measure 6.3 – Support for loes, dairy cows and meat heifers pared to 2013, their half-breeds. the development of small farms in order to ensure the premises for gross added value, especially Total Unit quan- The beneficiaries of this sub-measu- by traditional production and Year Eligible category amount tum (EUR/ res are the farmers who own or use an provision of food on the proximity (EUR) head) agricultural holding, which is part of markets; 2010 Dairy cows 22,447,205 99.63 the category of small farms, for a mi- - preventing the tendency to redu- 2011 Dairy cows 22,447,205 86.37 nimum period of 10 years, with an eco- ce the herd of dairy buffalo cows, nomic size between 8,000 and 11,999 -dairy cows dairy cows and meat heifers in the 19,497,205 93.42 SO (value of standard output). -dairy buffalo cows; disadvantaged areas; 2012 1,500,000 187.5 -heifers from the meat breeds The non-repayable support is of ma- - preventing the depreciation of 6,500,000 300 and their half-breeds: ximum EUR 15,000 for an agricultu- the living standard in the disa- ral holding and it is granted for a pe- dvantaged areas and avoiding the - dairy cows riod of five years, in two instalments, abandonment of the rural establi- -dairy buffalo cows; 1,500,000 90 as follows: shments from these areas. 6,500,000 187.5 2013 -heifers from the meat breeds and their half-breeds: 22,447,205 300 – 75% of the quantum of the support The specific aid per holding is a finan- upon signing the funding decision; cial support afferent to the European -ovine females/caprine 6,711,315 6.5 – 25% of the quantum of the support Agricultural Guarantee Fund, whi- animals within maximum three years as of ch is temporarily granted from the signing the funding decision; state budget via the budget of the According to MARD strategy, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Specific aid 2013 2014 small farmers may also benefit by so- Development. granted to disa- No. Of bene- No. of No of bene- No. of cial and economic counselling services dvantaged areas ficiar-ies heads ficiar-ies heads in order to be informed with regard to The amount of the specific financi- the options they have and to be hel- al aid is calculated on annual basis, Dairy cows 315,883 348,634 Dairy buffalo ped to optimize their decisions. This in Lei, at EUR-RON exchange rate of 3,969 4,324 cows can be achieved based on a program- the European Central Bank, at the last 87,609 97,655 me for the consolidation of the public quotation of September, published in Meat heifers 9,974 20,427 consultancy service and its speciali- the Official Journal of the European Ovine/caprine 2,154,356 2,872,377 zation in the fields requested by the Union, for a maximum ceiling of EUR animals farmers and PAC. 30,000,000.

18 19 Rural Romania – no. 32

establishment of sustainable, effici- Dynamics of dimensional structure of the dairy cow and heifer holdings ent and competitive animal husban- within 2007 – 2012 period: dry holdings and also upgrading the existing ones. Size of the holding Year 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Due to the fact that, with regard to this Animals in % of 64.32 59.43 59.72 58.05 55.48 52.47 scheme, a nucleus of 300000 heads holdings with the of dairy cows is supported in order to 1-2 heads total maintain both the herd of dairy cows Animals in % of 26.43 30.00 29.35 30.57 32.61 33.46 and the milk production for 2009 re- holdings with the ference year, the notion of family farm 3-20 heads total was justified especially for the mini- Animals in % of 5.77 6.52 6.41 6.89 7.44 8.27 mum threshold of 10 heads. holdings with the 21-100 heads total The coupled voluntary support is de- Holdings % of 3.49 4.05 4.53 4.49 4.47 5.80 dicated to the segment of family farms with over 100 the with the economic size from 8000 to heads total 250,000 SO (EUR) – as they are de- Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% fined in the Government Emergency Source: M.A.R.D. operative data Ordinance no. 43/2013 on measures for the development and support At the same time, it is observed - decrease, within the last years, of the family farms and facilitation as follows: of the number of animals in of the access of farmers to funding, small holdings, with 1-2 heads: and according to (EC) Regulation - the great number of farms with from 59.72% in 2011 to 52.47% in no. 1.242/2008. This segment of fa- 1-2 heads, which produce milk for 2014; at the same time, the incre- mily farms produces for the market family consumption, in this way, ase of the number of animals in and maintains a good part of the pro- not ensuring the supply of the lo- The coupled support heads, representing 18.5%, causing and the production level from 2009 each of the higher dimensional duction and supply level on the local a diminution of the milk producti- reference year. cal market and the satisfaction of markets. continues the specific categories. on from 50570 thousand hectolitres the consumption requirement; aid for the dairy cow in 2009 to 42591 thousand hectoli- A slight increase of the total - the small number of farms with Among the specific objective of the Supporting the segment of family breeders from the tres in 2013 – a decrease of appro- number of cattle and breeding over 20 heads, considered family Romanian animal husbandry sector farms (with over 10 heads of dairy disadvantaged areas ximately 16%. Therefore, the cou- stock is observed in 2012, 2013 farms; there is also the stimulation of the cows, but up to 250 heads) shall have and 2014; thus, in 2014, the total pled voluntary aid was conceived number of cattle has increased The decrease of the breeding stock for a number of dairy cows equal to with 14.2% as compared to 2011, from 1569 thousand heads in 2009 this difference rounded to 300 tho- and the breeding stock has incre- to 1279 thousand heads in 2013 in- usand heads, with the intent of ma- ased with 12.9% as compared to dicates a difference of 290 thousand intaining the cattle breeding stock the same year.

Statistical data regarding the total number of cattle, breeding stock and milk production: Specifications Reference year 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Cattle Total number - (thousands of heads) 2.512 2.001 1.989 2.009 2022 2271 % as compared to 2009 reference year 100 79.66 79.18 79.98 80.49 90.41 differences as compared to 2009 refe- 0 511 523 503 490 241 rence year – (thousands of heads) Breeding Number (thousands of heads) 1,569 1,299 1265 1265 1279 1428 stock % as compared to 2009 reference year 100 95.8 92.96 95.24 94.05 91.01 differences as compared to 2009 refe- 0 270 304 304 290 141 rence year – (thousands of heads) Milk pro- (thousands of hl) 50,570 42,824 43,947 42,036 42,592 42,685 duction - % as compared to 2009 reference year 100 84.68 86.9 83.12 84.22 84.41 differences as compared to 2009 refe- 0 7,746 6,623 8,534 7,978 7,885 rence year – (thousands of hl) Source: N.I.S. and M.A.R.D. operative data

20 21 Rural Romania – no. 32

beneficial effects with regard to the of the due date for the submission of The coupled voluntary aid is conceived to 250 000 SO (EUR) – as they are de- percentage of milk delivered to the increase of the quantity of milk deli- the payment application; registration for a number of dairy buffalo cows of fined in the Government Emergency processing units, which is welcomed vered to the processing units, because of the dairy cows with the genealogi- approximately 7000 heads, according Ordinance no. 43/2013 on measures because these processing units are these processing units currently work cal register of the breed. to the calculation: 4400 dairy buffalo for the development and support of currently working at 50% of their ca- at 50% of their capacity, avoiding the cows + 3410 (milk production deficit the family farms and facilitation of the pacity, in this way avoiding the aban- abandonment of the milk processing The quantum per animal head is esta- = 7810 dairy buffalo cows), with the access of the farmers to funding, and donment of the milk processing acti- activity and, implicitly, the closure of blished under a regulatory act depen- intent of preventing the extinction of in (EC) Regulation no. 1.242/2008. vity and, implicitly, the closure of the the industrial units. ding on the eligible herd. The amounts the Romanian buffalo breed and of This segment of family farm produ- shall be paid for the eligible animals industrial units. keeping a buffalo cow breeding stock ces for the market and maintains a Thus, the coupled voluntary support and they shall be requested with one and the level of production from 2009 production and supply level on the lo- for the dairy cows shall be granted for year in advance. Thus, the coupled voluntary support reference year. cal markets. 10 to 250 heads of dairy cows, inclusi- for the dairy buffalo cows is provided for maximum 100 heads of dairy vely, per beneficiary, from the specie The coupled support for Nowadays, 1-2 heads of buffalo cows By dividing the maximum amount of heifers from specialized and mixed are reared, barely ensuring the milk of 250,000 SO of this economic size buffalo cows per beneficiary – females breeds contained in the list drawn-up the dairy buffalo cows consumption of the family. In order range to the standard production co- from buffaloes specie, which have cal- by NAIR, which have calved at least continues the specific to be economically viable and to pro- efficient per animal, which, for the ved at least once until the due date for once until the due date for the submis- aid for the dairy buffalo vide milk on the local markets, it is dairy buffalo cows is 561.8 SO (accor- the submission of the applications, and sion of the applications, and have at cow breeders from the they have at least one product registe- least one product registered with the necessary to concentrate the buffalo ding to 2010 A.A.I.N. (Agricultural disadvantaged areas red with NRH, if the following cumu- National Register of the Holdings, if cows in the family farms. Due to this Accounting Information Network) productive reason and for the purpo- Standard Production Coefficients), lative conditions are complied with: certain conditions are cumulatively The Romanian buffalo breed is thre- se of preserving the Romanian buffa- we obtain the maximum number of met with regard to: milk delivery, for atened by extinction. The decrease - withholding period of six months lo breed, the support is granted to the 445 dairy buffalo cows up to which a a minimum period of six months; the of the total number of buffalo from as of the due date for the submis- cows must be maximum eight years of breeders of the dairy buffalo cows who holding is considered a family farm. 28,800 heads in 2009 to 19,593 heads sion of the payment application; age on the due date for the submissi- apply for specific aid for a maximum The chosen limit of 100 dairy buffalo in 2013 indicates a difference of appro- - identification and registration wi- on of the applications; the minimum ximately 9207 heads, representing For an average buffalo cow milk pro- number of 100 heads of dairy buffalo cows is within this range. th NRG; herd for which aid is requested; iden- 22%. Both the number of dairy buffa- duction/head/year of 1713 litres/head, cows per beneficiary. tification and registration of the dairy lo cows and the milk production de- The support provided to this segment - updated individual register of the the deficit of 58407 hl scored in 2013 cows in the NRH; holding the upda- crease in 2013 as compared to 2009 Thus, the coupled voluntary support of family farms of dairy buffalo cows holding; ted individual register of the holding; with approximately 24.3% and 19.4%, as compared to 2009 is a deficit of is dedicated to the segment of family will have beneficial effects with regard - registration with the genealogical withholding period of six months as respectively. 3410 heads of buffalo cows. farms with the economic size of 8000 to the facilitation of the increase of the register of the breed.

Statistical data regarding the total number of dairy buffaloes, buffalo cows and the production of buffalo cow milk:

Specifications Reference year 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Buffaloes Total number – (heads) 28800 25918 21682 20847 19593 19483 % as compared to 2009 refe- 100.00 89.99 75.28 72.38 68.03 67.65 rence year differences as compa- 0 2882 7118 7953 9207 9317 red to 2009 reference year – (heads) Dairy Number – (heads) 18117 16187 14557 15290 13717 13463 buffalo % as compared to 2009 refe- 100.00 89.34 80.34 84.39 75.71 74.31 cows rence year differences as compa- 0 1930 3560 3.062 4400 4654 red to 2009 reference year – (heads) Milk (hl) 301580 291061 238856 259354 243173 256981 production % as compared to 2009 refe- 100.00 96.51 79.20 85.99 80.63 85.21 rence year differences as compared to 0 10519 62724 42226 58407 44599 2009 reference year – (hl) Source: M.A.R.D. operative data

22 23 Rural Romania – no. 32

People

successors, namely, one of his dau- Agriculture: Family tradition ghters and his son-in-law . “One of my daughters – Daniela Țambrea and successful business Achim, together with her husband, Ovidiu Achim, have taken over the business, and my other daughter, It is said that long ago, when the Turkish people were wandering Cristina Trepcea, is a school teacher at around the region on the left bank of the Danube to gather ser- Bucharest”, said Cornel Bernat, who, vants for the Ottoman Empire, a shepherd named San Giorgio even though he has retired from the was living there. One day, while he was taking his sheep grazing activity, he continues to advise his suc- in the Danube Valley, San Giorgiu released a large group of peo- cessors in the business which he built ple who were going to be taken to the Ottoman Empire. After be- in Giurgiu County. ing released, they established there, transforming a passage into a small town. This town is called today Giurgiu. Agriculture is a basic economic branch for Giurgiu County, con- Taken over the business: sidering its geographic location, in plain area. Agriculture is one „I chose to bring up my of the oldest occupations of the inhabitants, an economic branch child being surrounded with high development potential for which qualified workforce by tractors, not by tall is ensured. city buildings” Not far from the city, at 11 km distance, on the radius of the locality of Frătești, there is the vegetal farm of S.C. AgroHolding S.A. In 2011, the opportunity came along you in every aspect, you will succe- the machine operators in the tractor, ed. In agriculture, it is not the money from Giurgiu, a business which is currently managed by the suc- for two young newlyweds to get out of and during the harvesting period, he that counts. Money are worthless, if cessors of the man who established it – the agronomist Cornel the crowded and stressful Bucharest sits in the harvester together with his you do not have someone with a his- Bernat. and to start a new life in a provinci- father. “We do not have yet all the ne- tory behind, to advise you every step al village, taking over the family bu- cessary machineries in our farm, but of the way. In 2011, we have decided to Cornel Bernat, Agronomist, has es- and profitable. If you join the passi- Seven permanent employees (five trac- siness. It was the time when Cornel the «car fleet» of our son is complete, leave Bucharest. We had the opportu- tor drivers, one economist and one Bernat decided to leave AgroHolding having state of the art machineries”, tablished in 1993 S.C. AgroHolding on and the family values, you obtain nity, the chance and the support of our S.A from Giurgiu in the hands of his joked Ovidiu Achim. He added that, SA at Giurgiu. Within the first years, economic efficiency”, said the engi- farm administrator) work at the farm parents. I chose to bring up my child daughter and son-in-law. this year, he intends to access Europe- the activity of the company consisted neer who established the agricultural of AgroHolding S.A. from Giurgiu, and being surrounded by trac-tors, not by in trading seeds, pesticides, chemi- business called AgroHolding Giurgiu. other three persons work in the offices. tall city buildings. It was hard, but loo- an funds in order to procure agricultu- cal fertilizers, also providing specialty “But no one complies exactly with his/ Daniela Țambrea Achim (age 37) is a king back now…it was all worth it”, ral equipment: a tractor, a towed we- advice to farmers. As of 1996, the com- Currently, 480 hectares are wor- her job description. Agriculture is not journalist, and for a few good years she said Daniela Țambrea Achim. Indeed, ed-control machinery, a self-propelled has worked at Antena Satelor Radio pany managed by Cornel Bernat has ked based on share farming and done by sitting on a chair at the office”, the seven year old child, Șerban, is weed-control machinery, a plough, a said the agronomist Cornel Bernat for and she has collaborated with agricul- officially become regional distributor another 40 hectares are the property happiest during the agricultural cam- pneumatic seeding machine for cere- for Pioneer, BASF, Bayer, NetAgro. In whom, even if she has not been em- ture magazines, in this way, making of the company, the worked area be- paigns, because he goes sowing with als and one for corn. 1999, as a result of the bankruptcy of ployed in the company, but in the edu- the transfer from writing to practice. ing located on the radius of Frătești the former IAS Giurgiu, AgroHolding cation system, his wife, Pavelina, has Her husband, Ovidiu Achim (age 37), Commune. The company continues SA has taken over 480 hectares which been representing a great support, in retired from the police department the agriculture input trading activity. has immediately started to cultivate. her leisure time helping her husband. and climbed directly on the harves- “We currently provide free advice to For approximately five years, all the ter. “In this business, you do not take Cornel Bernat has been working in the all those who buy the agricultural and hard work in the company, from the it over, but you continue and develop field of agriculture for over 50 years, technological packages from us”, said field activity to the management of it in parallel. And if you have a little his passion for this sector being inhe- Cornel Bernat. the business, has been done by his bit of luck and parents who support rited from his father, who was also an agronomist. Therefore, a great part of his childhood he has spent being surrounded by croppers, tractors and animals.

Cornel Bernat considers that the in- gredients for his success are the pleasure given by a thing well done, the passion, the family and the eco-nomic efficiency. “The first condition is to do everything with pleasure and convic- tion. The second one is to be rational

24 25 Rural Romania – no. 32

“We have not made investments under European projects yet. With an Lavender – an architecture and art average annual profit of 3-5 billion ROL, we have not been constrained to take loans from banks. The ma- platform chineries that we use in the farm are Cecilia Dinu has graduated the Faculty food supplement companies, looked on bought with cash or via Non-banking Cecilia and Dragoș Dinu, to- of Journalism, but she has worked the internet, talked with older farmers Financial Institutions – NFI”, said gether with a friend, Lucian more in the marketing sector, and, la- (even though they have never cultivate tely, in the cosmetic industry. Dragoș such thing), consulted with those from Ovidiu Achim. Țăran, have started a laven- Dinu is an architect, and Lucian whom they bought the cuttings etc. Of der “business” several years The car fleet of AgroHolding S.A. from Țăran is a ceramist. In other words, course, the information was different Giurgiu currently includes a 230 HP ago. The word “business” is, besides the desire “to do something”, and too many. The first thought was to New Holland TC 5050 harvester, a in their opinion, too preten- nothing recommended them for such cultivate mixed cultures of medicinal preoccupation. plants, but, in the end, they chose la- 250 HP John Deere W 540 harves- tious; all that they have wan- vender as an experiment, in order to ter, three John Deere tractors (8230 ted was to start “doing” so- of 230 HP, 6150 of 150 HP and 5100 of From 2010, they have been searching see how this plant “works”. mething in the field of agri- 100 HP) and also agricultural equip- for a business in which to be able to ment: high capacity disc plough, com- culture with some profit. use the resources. They do not even They have actually started three years binatory, scarificator, plough, seeding Cecilia Dinu shared their remember exactly how they came with later. “In 2013, we told ourselves that the idea to plant lavender, but, at that we must start. Within a week I esta- machines. experience with us. time, there was too little known about blished the culture together with my “The land must be worked with machi- agricultural year, because of strictly The holding produces on annual basis this culture. They have searched at the husband and a friend, who is a ceramic They already had the land, inherited neries owned by the farm. Only in this economic considerations, according to around 400 tons Elita C1 of wheat seed from their parents, which it would way you obtain profit”, said Daniela Daniela Țambrea Achim. Even without batches -, of which 300 tons are sold have been a pity to leave it unworked. Țambrea Achim. irrigation, the cultures yield satisfac- and 100 tons remain in the company But, agriculture was not their stren- tory average productions: wheat 6000 for seeding. gth. They had never thought that a mo- tons/ha, sunflower 4500 tons/ha, corn ment would come when they would be Without passion and 12,000 tons/ha. “Irrigation is practi- Part of the yielded production is sold called farmers. Actually, they do not cally impossible. We have irrigation pi- upon harvesting, and a part is kept sacrifices you do not have even want to admit that, but you can- pes, but I have not seen a drop of water to be capitalized when the prices are the desired results acceptable. “The bread wheat is par- not have a farm without receiving the in eight years, and all the pumping sta- tially sold upon harvesting, the rest afferent title. tions have been destroyed. Last year, In the farm of AgroHolding S.A. from of it is kept in especially arranged we were terrorized by mice, this year, Giurgiu, barley, wheat, corn, sunflower premises. We own a storage space and rape are cultivated, but the rape we pray to rain. You do not mess with of 1500 tons. We have no silo yet. In has no longer existed in the struc- nature”, said Daniela Țambrea Achim the case of wheat, being of high qua- ture of the cultures from 2014-2015 with a bitter smile. lity, with gluten index of over 28%, we have been working directly, for several years, with a bread mak-ing company from Prahova. The rest of the wheat is sold depending on the market fluc- tuations. The barley, corn and sunflower we sell upon harvesting. They need certain storage conditions”, said Daniela Țambrea Achim. The young woman thinks that agriculture will always have a future. “Such work can- not be made without passion and sacrifices. But, in the end, it is all worth it. Or, at least it is for those who love the land. And I am trying to pass this love to my child, with whom I joke that I prefer to see him become a tractor driver than a journalist, like me, or a policeman, like his father”, concluded Daniela Țambrea Achim, who, at 37 years old, loves the field work the same as she loves her family.

26 27 Rural Romania – no. 32

artist. We have done everything by I am thrilled with the idea of colour, Bucharest), on a lakeside, where they had more possibilities there. “We have production is not too great in order for especially, a place which to attract. We hand (the land had been previously to have a coloured field of our own.” also had a piece of land, but they thou- reoriented, because we did not have us to think about export or to try to ca- are taking one step at a time, because cultivated with corn; therefore, it was pitalize it in factories or large compa- things are not simple and they must ght it was not sufficient and they orien- enclosure, we had no spot where we first ploughed – Ed.) in a rainy peri- could say that we could move forward. nies. Often, when people hear that we also be funded.” In the beginning, they wanted to start ted towards Brănești (another commu- od. We planted the lavender cuttings Here (at Brănești –Ed.) we also have a have a lavender culture, they say that while raining. It was a very beautiful a plantation nearby Fundulea (close to ne close to the capital), because, they chalet, and we also use the respecti- we could make shampoos, soaps and They wish to access funds under moment from our life, but it was more ve place as nursery – where we obta- so on, but this is another business.” NRDP, but they are still thinking abo- beautiful when, in the spring, we have in the cuttings, the planting stock, the ut a measure which they could be part noticed that 90% of the plantation took seeds.” of. “Initially, we did not intend to build roots. We did not spray any chemical They want more than just a boarding house. We wanted to cul- substance on the plantation, we just At that time, we only found cuttings a simple plantation tivate lavender and to have premises let the nature take its course.” for two thousand square meters at a where to dry it. Afterwards, we thou- price higher than the supply on the This plantation is just the beginning. ght that other premises are necessary market. “We have bought as many They have planned an extension of because we might be constrained to Lavender is not a plant spend the night. Afterwards, we thou- cuttings as we could find. We bought up to three, four hectares, to build a hard to cultivate greenhouse (they already have a sola- ght that we could organize events and them for approximately four Lei a pie- rium in which they keep the lavender that we could accommodate those who ce. It is true that, afterwards, we saw Although they wanted to do agricul- pots during wintertime) and a buil- participate. Do not think that it is a ho- cuttings sold for one Leu. But, we trus- ture, they knew they limits with re- ding where to organize small events tel. It is a relatively small construction, ted our cutting supplier from the be- gard to their knowledge in the field with a small accommodation space. which only has four rooms and a tech- ginning and we did not try to negotiate and they did not want to start to do The project is already done. They have nical area, which is intended to keep wrong a complicated work. Therefore, or give up. It is very important to be also obtained building permit. “The the architectural elements characte- they looked for a not so complicated able to subsequently request an advi- land looks beautiful and it is located ristic to the plain region: small shed culture, said Cecilia Dinu: “We wan- ce or an opinion with regard to how in an area with not too much traffic. roof, large terrace/porch typical for ted to do something that we could le- things should evolve, and we wanted We thought it would be very nice to the Romanian traditional architectu- arn. Lavender is not a plant hard to to be sure that we can maintain the erect a building in which to host small re, built in eco style, using natural ma- cultivate, it is not hard to look after, contact with our supplier.” events, even for companies, and the terial, but with a very modern touch. either, because it is perennial, living pretext to be the lavender culture. The It is a well though architectural pro- for 20 years. And this is how we thou- The production was not too great in people would come and enjoy it. Being ject, with modern shape and design, ght about cultivating lavender, becau- the first year – the lavender reaches also close to the woods, it is pleasing based on the principle «good design se it is beautiful and has longevity, it maturity after three years – and they to the eye and people come with plea- is good business». Therefore, it is not is special; you may say that it is both have sold it exclusively as bouquets sure. It will be a special constructi- very clear to us under what measu- wild and domestic at the same time. for small events. “The lavender on with an adapted architecture, but, re we could access European funds.”

28 29 Rural Romania – no. 32

Experiences

They are willing to of one hectare with lavender 20,000 – financially. “Irrespective of how small associate 22,000 cuttings are necessary. We cal- is the planted area, it is possible for it My farm culated on paper and we have reached to be a target for thieves, for those who the conclusion that half or a bit more Until now, they have managed to get by sell in markets, without documents, Passion equals success than half of this figure is necessary, and who are not brought to account only by retailing, because they had to depending on the planting scheme. with regard to the origin of the mer- sell a small quantity, but, in the futu- We produced by ourselves most of our chandise. At best, the merchandise is Eight years ago, at the age of re, they will have a greater production, cuttings – for what we intend to plant confiscated and that is all.” considering the extension they have 17, Alexandru Tăședan star- in autumn. Probably, we will also buy.” planned. Even if they limit themselves ted on the difficult road of Although there are still many questi- to the same area, the production would performance in the field of They also started to buy machineries, ons to which they think what answer be greater than currently. Cecilia says animal husbandry. Today, because it is not the same working a to give, the three partners are optimis- that a plant, at maturity, has appro- he manages one of the model few hectares as working two thousand tic. They are convinced that they have ximately 800 ears on a bush, but the square meters. They have bought a still much to learn. For example, their farms of Arad County, where production yielded on the area that tiller and they are going to also buy a project with lavender in pots was not he owns approximately 150 they currently own would not be suffi- planting machine, which will not com- a success, because the technology ba- heads of cattle from Holstein cient to be able to supply the cosmetic pletely exclude the manual work. Last, sed on cuttings, which they practiced industry or to export. They intend to Friesian, Romanian Spotted but not least, they intend to buy a har- in the field, differs from that based on contact other producers with whom to and Brown breeds. Last year vesting machine. seeds, which they used for pots. The associate. Because it seems that there he was awarded with the plants grew unexpectedly big and they are many others who want to initiate “Farmer of the Year” award, do not fit in the pot. this business, a good idea would be to Production security, an a title which shows that pro- produce planting stock. “We are very issue which is hard to fessionalism is ageless. open and willing to collaborate with solve Lavendo, flowers and art Lacto Vest Curtici, mana- other producers. We have nothing to ged by the young Alexandru lose, but only to win, all of us.” As we have said, the project is ampler. They are currently in full harvesting Tăședan, is a family business process, but they want to keep the They have also chose a brand for it. transformed in a farm with She wants to draw the attention that plantation as bloomed as possible, They called it “Lavendo”, which means those who sell transmit much higher “in order to pick it pinnate by pinna- lavender in Esperanto (the most spre- milk production output. figures when it comes to the quan- te and, also, in order to leave the buds ad and best known artificial langua- tity of cuttings necessary for plan- to continue growing”. Therefore, a very ge). Besides flowers, they also want At almost 25 years old, Alexandru of a veterinarian techni-cian. I have breeding technology from the pro- ting one hectare: “There are errone- important aspect is the security of the to make room for the ceramic art and Tăședan manages Lacto Vest Company graduated the Food Industry High- fitable farms. The courses from the ous data, because the planting stock harvest – an attempt which challen- sculpture of the artist Lucian Țăran, from Curtici, Arad County, a dairy cow School from Arad, with the specia- faculties should be revised”, said the producers say that for the cultivation ges them both organisationally and including to the objects for the deco- farm. He was neither born, nor did he lization of Veterinarian Technician”, young farmer. Currently, students ration of the green space. They dream grow up in the countryside, but in the said Alexandru Tăședan. from the University of Agricultural for Lavendo to become a place which city of Arad, and he used to come to Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of the art, colour and perfume lovers to Curtici at his grandparents. Although we could say about this yo- Timișoara fre-quently come to his look for. “It would be nice for people ung man that he was lucky to have farm to practice. to come and see. We want to combine In 2014, he graduated the Faculty of the chance to apply in his own farm the architecture with art and flowers. Animal Science and Biotechnology everything that he has theoretically We want a place which to valorise the- from Timișoara. “Considering that I studies during faculty, the things are Permanent investments se three elements. We plan an outdo- had the love and passion for animals not quite like that. “The study books or art, we want art objects which to since I was little, especially for the are old, they contain theory which is in technology in order to have the touch of this place. We do not dairy cows, my thoughts went straight no longer of help, and the information keep the pace with the like garden gnomes and that is why to this field. My specialization is also no longer corresponds to the current market demands we want to promote contemporary art over kitsch. With regard to us, beyond The first steps to establish the farm the value of the harvest and the poten- were also made in the courtyard of tial of the business, we could say that his grandparents. If, initially they only the value of the land has already incre- had a few heads of cattle, when they ased. Meanwhile, we have the lavender culture, we have a certificate of pro- reached fourteen animals, they were ducer, a receipt book and a certificate. constrained to decide whether to con- Those who want, they can buy from us tinue the extension or not. Thus, in lavender bouquets or other objects. 2007, when he bought a stable of the We will not get rich from this, but, it former CAP from Curtici, modernized is sure that, after everything will take it and, only after two years, in October, shape, it will be something else.” 2009, the farm was inaugurated.

30 31 Rural Romania – no. 32

In order to have the viable business and I decided in favour of the dairy Choosing the bulls for artificial inse- are fed outside. In the shelter, the sta- said that the cow is free to do whatever The milk is processed and that he has now, the investments were cow. For almost five years, we have minations considers, first and fore- bles are individual, on straw bed, but it wants, it has free access to water, fo- sold to the local villagers of tens of thousands of Euro from his been working with a Canadian com- most, the production. “We have seve- it is considered to return to sand bed. dders and resting stables, where it has own money, but also from non-repa- pany, which provides us with top general bulls with efficient genetics from “When we inaugu-rated the farm, we its dry and hygienic place. Lacto Vest farm from Curtici is equip- yable European funds. tics in order to yield more milk and to whom we use frozen seminal mate- were using sand bed, which was very ped with milking room with all the have healthy animals with a balanced rial (FSM). For each cow, depending good for the decrease of the inciden- In general, the fodder is produced at necessary equipment for the number on the weaknesses it has, both as re- In 2012, Alexandru Tăședan accessed structure”, said Alexandru Tăședan. ce of mastitis, because no microorga- the farm, on approximately 40 hecta- of cows owned. The milking system gards the production and the structu- Measure 112 – “Set-up of young far- nism devel-ops in sand. This way, we res cultivated with cereals and fodder is 1x5 fir type, with display showing re, we chose the adequate bull”, said mers”, with a funding of EUR 40,000, have a plus, because the main issues plants, most of the lands being owned the milk yield, its conductibility, tem- Alexandru Tăședan which has materialized one year later The production is which arise in a dairy cow farm are by us. The animals also receive oilca- perature etc. in the procurement of a cylindrical carefully monitored those related to podotechnics, disea- kes or pre-mixtures. Feeding is done bale wrapper. Otherwise, the young The investment in genetics is not a The milk is delivered both to a proces- useless expense for the farmers who ses of the feet, mastitis and reproduc- with the help of the technological trai- sing factory in the area and to custo- farmer says that permanent invest- The average production per farm is tion. We have tried to limit the issues ler in which the following fodders are ments in technology are necessary know that the dairy cow can be an mers – subscribers from Curtici and currently of up to 30 litres of milk per related to the health of the udder and mixed together: corn silo, wheat silo, Arad. “I am glad that the people recei- in order to keep up with the market extremely profitable business. For day per cow head. If it were for us to Alexandru Tăședan it is a necessary it seems that it is possible by using the Lucerne semi-hay, Lucerne hay, grass ve information via socializing media requirements. make a hierarchy of the breeds, con- investment, which helps him building sand bed, which also provides com- hay, cereal middling, pre-mixtures, and they understood that it is impor- sidering that the farm from Curtici the future of his farm, creating more fort, during the summer time being sunflow-er and soy oilcakes. Each cow tant to come to the farm, to see from Currently, in Lacto Vest farm from resilient animals and increasing the much more invigorating”, said the yo- receives 38.6 kilograms of sole fodder where you drink the milk, to see the Curtici there are approximately 150 holds an important number of cows milk production. ung farmer. Alexandru Tăședan also on daily basis. calves, to feed them, to take the milk. heads of cattle from Holstein Friesian, from the three aforementioned breeds, We like to see the people coming by Romanian Spotted and Brown bre- Holstein would occupy the first place with an average of 34 litres of milk bicycle to take the milk. We also have eds. „I have bought and brought in Welfare of the animals a greater direct processing share. per day, the Romanian Spotted and the farm the Brown breed because I Therefore, I would like to give up the Red Holstein breeds coming second wanted to find out how it evolves in Lacto Vest farm from Curtici was mo- milk factory for the idea of integrati- our region. After two years in which with 28 litres of milk per day, and the dernized by considering the principle on”, said Alexandru Tăședan. I have seen how things were going, I Brown breed yielding somewhere aro- of the welfare of the animals. Thus, the chose between the meat and dairy cow und 27-28 litres of milk on daily basis. cow is left in loose housing and they The farmer of 2014

The acknowledgement of the work of the young farmer Alexandru Tăședan came last year when he was awarded by the Ministry of Agricul-ture and Rural Development with the “Farmer of Year 2014” award. The nominations are made by the County Agricultural Directorates, based on the centrali- zed data regarding the productions yielded both in the vegetal and in the animal husbandry farms. He was no- minated based on the average annual production per cow head. At Lacto Vest farm from Curtici, the daily average per farm per cow head is of 30.6 litres, and the annual average per cow head in 365 day is of approximately 9300 litres/cow.

Farm extension is part of the future plans of Alexandru Tăședan. Still, the industrial farms are no longer what he desires, because the entire activity is automatically done. Ideal are the family farms with 100 cows in lactation, with almost automatized technology, with milking robots. It envisages hi- mself at this level in five or maximum eight years.

32 33 Rural Romania – no. 32

working in this family farm. The pa- Programme, the money being used to Different spices, all having a very My business rents and the mother-in-law take care buy a tractor with front-end loader of high added value, are added in the of the calves – the youth, I am res- EUR 31,000 and of 17 pregnant heifers products prepared in the dairy cen- Agri-tourism boarding house, a finality of the ponsible for the management of the with valuable genetics from Austria, tre. The valorisation takes place in holding, and our son makes the dai- the production base of the farm. The the boarding house, but also at tradi- ries. He is also specialized in tourism, total amount of the project for buil- tional fairs, agricultural exhibitions investment in animal husbandry and, thus, we have combined agricul- ding the boarding house was of EUR and other events. The variety of pro- ture with tourism. Actually, the entire 110,000, of which the non-repayable ducts attracts the customers and, as family works in this business, which European funding was of EUR 70,000. the tastes are different, the sale has Sándor Kálmán from means both agriculture and tourism”, increased. “If the processer is famili- Merești Village, Harghita said Sándor Kálmán. County, started in the ‘90s ar with the technology, he can prepare Exclusive dairies many things from milk, if he also has with a family farm with two In this way, agriculture finds a sales cows and five sheep. Today, a little bit of fantasy. Harghita County outlet in tourism, this also being the In the business of the family of Sándor he has 50 heads of cattle Council has initiated a milk processing idea from which they started when Kálmán, the milk is being processed and 30 sheep, an agri-tou- they accessed the European funds for course where my son, Sándor Kálmán for approximately five years. Before rism boarding house and the establishment of the agri-tourism Huba, has acquired the fundaments, that, it was handed over to processers, a dairy processing centre. boarding house. “In the sector of agri- and, afterwards, he went to Hungary, Everything that he produ- tourism, we have to valorise agricul- but the breeders were facing payment Austria, Switzerland and France, after ces in the farm is served to tural and agri-food prod-ucts prepa- delays of a few months to one year. each visit returning with something the tourists. A house built red at the farm. The dairies are those Therefore, they decided that they new. If we look back, the same tech- approximately 200 years that we provide to the tourists. Besides must do something with the milk, to nologies were used by the old-time ago was restored in order the boarding house, we are about to transform it into a product with ad- animal breeders to process the milk. to become an agri-tourist finalize the pro-cessing centre arran- ded value. “These products, obtained When the industrialization took pla- boarding house, keeping ged in the former shed. The boarding based on traditional methods, differ ce, these methods were forgotten, but the exact architecture and house is fitted out in a house built in to a great extent from the dairy pro- the traditional processing process re- furniture. The boarding ho- 1837, so it is a rural house specific to ducts made in factories. In our case, vives these old technologies used by use was also restored with the area, which we restored, keeping each time after milking the cows, the our ancestors”, said Sándor Kálmán, European funding. its architecture and rustic furniture”, milk is freshly processed. Due to the who thinks that this valorisation with said Sándor Kálmán. fact that it is not homogenized, often, the shortest chain from producer di- The history of the farm begins imme- of Sándor Kálmán focused on this seg- European money has the taste of the product includes tho- rectly to the consumer is the future In this way, the house was transfor- diately after the Revolution, when ment. Here, the animals are reared in se flavours from the plants grazed by for the traditional products. developed the family med in a two daisy boarding house, Sándor Kálmán claimed the land be- extensive system from the end of April the animals on the pasture, being pos- business and the stable attached to it in a milk longing to his family, which was col- until the end of October the pasture sible for this to differ from one day processing centre. One of the principles based on which lectivized at that time. “I received back being green, because, during winter- to another, depending on the pasture Meanwhile, the holding developed and this business is managed is that of mu- 7.5 hectares, and in 1991, I bought the time, they are taken to the stable, but the farmer accessed European funds, The first project had a non-repayable from which the cows grazed. Another tual respect between farmer and the first tractor. It was then when I star- with loose housing. the first project being submitted un- funding in amount of EUR 16,000. specificity of the products is that we final consumer. Thus, all the visitors ted working in agriculture. I was using der Measure 112 “Set-up of young far- The amount was spent on agricultural have a salt water well in the commu- of the boarding house from Merești the tractor more for transportation Feeding is based on hay, because at the mers”. “Our son is the farmer and the machineries: a manure scatter-ing tow ne with which we brine the products. Village from Harghita County can see and to prepare the fodders”, remin- farm from Merești only matured types one who does these wonderful things. and a rotating mower. Another fun- Therefore, I may say that our products how are the animals fed and how is the ded Sándor Kálmán. of cheese is produced. The silo or other He accessed a project with European ding was received under the Farmer’s are exclusive”, said Sándor Kálmán. milk processed. fermented fodders affect the milk, and funding for the set-up of young far- Due to the fact that the area is propi- it is no longer good for making matu- mers. And he owns the boarding ho- tious for breeding animals, the family red cheese. use. Three generations are currently

34 35 Rural Romania – no. 32

Up-to-date Leader

„Pe Mureș și pe Târnave” Local Action Group Association

„Pe Mureș și pe Târnave” Local Action Group was established in 2010, being a public and private partnership set-up in accordance with the requirements of LEADER Axis (axis IV of 2007- 2013 National Rural Development Programme).

LAG territory comprises 11 localities from Alba County: Cetatea de Baltă, Jidvei, Șona, Sâncel, Teiuș, Rădești, Lopadea Nouă, Hopârta, Lunca Mureșului, Fărău, Noșlac, and also one locality from Mureș County, namely Ațintiș.

In January, 2012, the funding contract was signed with the Payment Agency for Rural Development and Fishing (PARDF) for the implementa-tion of the strategy. Historical house to which The amount allocated for renovation Many of the tourists who visited us the tourists return with would have been enough for erecting came from Hungary, Italy and France. The main objective is the implemen- pleasure another two new buildings. Being an Many of them chose to return. “Now, tation of the local development plan old and closed down building, in whi- we have groups who return for the in LAG territory, consisting in 12 lo- have built the vision of develop- ch no investment had been made, the Few of the successfully The boarding house, for which the to- third time in one year. The people calities from Alba and Mureș Coun-ty. ment based on the territorial new owners had a lot to work in order completed projects tal investment was of EUR 110,000, from Bucharest are starting to beco- capital, considering the most sig- has a capacity for 12 people and it was to modernize and keep the local archi- The actual implementation began in me interested. The tourists are curi- nificant resources of the territory From the beginning of its activity, „Pe inaugurated approximately one year tectural specificity. Thus, the boar- May, 2012, when the first session of ous to find out how we work and how and their capitalization for the be- Mureș și pe Târnave” LAG has laun- ago. “We were given this house built ding house has only two daisies, be- project selection was launched, the is the area, and many of them wish nefit of the entire terri-tory. ched 24 selection sessions in which in 1837, and we restored in old style, cause the structure of the house was first projects being submitted by LAG to return”, said Sándor Kálmán. For - Increase of local capacity. The in- 60 projects were selected. 53 contract but in accordance with the current kept and not all the rooms have own at PARDF in September, 2012. crease/consolidation of the local example, last year, on Pentecost, the have been signed, seven being in the hygiene requirements. We consider bathrooms. Only those from the attic capacity is a priority for our LAG. group of tourists who cele-brated the process of contracting. that we offer an accommodation and have bathrooms, at the ground-flo- During the implementation, LAG ac- For us, it is an important objec- leisure time spending quality of a 4-5 or there is a common bathroom for day here, before leaving, made reser- tivity was focused on the animation of tive, based on our actions, both The projects funded under the sub- star hotel”, said Sándor Kálmán. two rooms. vations for the next year. the territory of the association, disse- at individual/community/loca- measures of the local development mination of LEADER sub-measures, lity level and at micro-regional organisation of promotion actions and strategy of „Pe Mureș și pe Târnave” level, to create models, examples events. Local Action Group have deter-mi- of good practice, so that, at the ned measurable results with beneficial end of the project, to have stren- The main benefits provided by effects on the lives of the inhabitants gthened communities. Although LEADER Programme for the territo- of LAG territory. the results will be seen in time, ry of „Pe Mureș și pe Târnave” LAG a current quantifiable indicator are as follows: For example, we present to you a few would be the number of benefici- projects which were successfully com- - Territorial cohesion of the micro- aries who access for the first time pleted and which were funded by ac- region and group. We consider a a funding programme. In our ca- cessing the European funds under great achievement the fact that se, only six out of 60 beneficiaries NRDP, LEADER Axis. The invest- the citizens from the territory feel who accessed LEADER measures ments which we provide below are the appurtenance to LAG part- are also beneficiaries of other pro- part of the development strategy of nership. Even from the animation grammes, of which four invested „Pe Mureș și pe Târnave” Local Action phase we can say that the partners under NRDP measures. Group.

36 37 Rural Romania – no. 32

Projects in the process of pre-school girls and girls from the folklorist Ovidiu Bârlea in “Essay S.A. Agrobiana, from Șona agricul-tural equipment”, un- profit, in order to increase the social primary education level, the second on the Romanian Folkloric Dance”, Commune, by its legal representati- and economic level of the rural area. implementation der which he bought a harvester for category consists in gymnasium and Purtata fetelor de la Căpâlna is, at ve, Valere Groza, Engineer, has iden- The advantages within the farm are the cereal and technical plant har- A project dear to us is the Promotion high-school girls, and the third cate- first sight, a simple dance: the gir- tified the opportunity of accessing vesting, equipped with corm and ce- significant: high technical level of of the Immaterial Patrimony – “Fetele gory consists in girls of any age, but ls, with simple steps, mark, in their European Funds under the Measure the ac-quired equipment determi- real harvesting equipment, and also de la Căpâlna” (Girls from Căpâlna), who are still single. The winding rows choreographic movement, spirals, 411.3 “Modernization of agricultu- nes high productivity, higher output submitted by Jidvei Commune. a header conveying cart. and circles described by the dance of winding lines and circles which ne- ral holdings”. For this purpose, he and, implicitly, the increase of the the girls suggest a restricted infinite, ver unite their ends. The girls, close has submit-ted and completed, in a qualitative and quantitative level of Located in the North part of according to the math teacher, Maria to one another, hold each other very The investment made by S.A. very short period of time, the pro- the agricultural works, which shall Transylvania plateau, on the upper Lebadus, of simply just the parade of tight, crossing their arms and holding ject called “Modernization of Agrobiana helps to develop an ef- finally determine higher economic bank of Târnava Mică, Alba County, the feminine beauty. themselves from the elbows, in a lar- the vegetal farm by procuring ficient agriculture, which generates and financial results. Căpâlna is a village which belongs to ge circle, start with rhythmical steps, Jidvei Commune and whose name Between 1977 and 1985, the number singing the respective songs by them- has been associated to a group of wo- of the dancers has increased to over selves. The dance is sometimes slow Fărău Commune has benefi- men who dance a specific dance. This 70, afterwards, drastically decrea- and other times very fast, from the ted, under a project funded under dance was brought to light in 1948, sing, in 1990 being less than 20. left to the right, back and forward, LEADER Axis, by the moderniza- when a school teacher, Stana Biriș, swinging or with a straight posture tion of the community centre from discovered it and promoted the gir- Because of the insufficient financial and, often, on unequal phrase. The Heria Village, providing to the inha- ls in the great cities from Romania. support, there is the risk for this tra- songs of the girls which accompany bitants the necessary infrastructu- dition to disappear. the dance are very interesting and re and equipment to organise shows The age and origin of this dance are have a great charm. and festivals which to valorise the lost somewhere in the middle of the The general objective of the invest- local customs. Medieval Period, being passed from ment was to provide the ensemble The customs and beliefs, the lyric and material patrimony. generation to generation. with traditional costumes, objects the folklore, the occupations and the This investments shall determi- necessary for the current cultural folkloric art are the priceless spiritu- ne the increase of the degree of ac- Furniture and audio and video “Purtata fetelor de la Căpâlna” (Dance practice and also promotional mate- al patrimony, which reflects the cre- cess and participation of the citi- equipment was procured under the of the girls from Căpâlna) is passed rials for this ensemble. ative fore of Romanian people from zens to the cultural life; preservati- project. The legal representative of to girls at the age of 4-5, and when all geographical areas of the country. on, protection, transfer, promotion the project was the Mayor of Fărău growing older, they may only dance it From the Dances of the girls from and valorisation of the cultural and Commune, Mr. Gligor Barabaș. if they are not married. The folkloric Târnavelor Valley, the dance of The dance of the girls from Căpâlna ensemble which interprets this dan- the girls from Căpâlna is the most is a patrimony element that must be ce is divided into three categories spectacular and touching one. kept unaltered and deserves to be Noșlac Commune has completed the rehabilitation works were execu- support provided by the employe- of age: the first category consists in In the description made by the promoted. project called: “Rehabilitation of the ted in the central area of Noșlac. es of „Pe Mureș și pe Târnave” LAG central area of Noșlac Commune Considering that in the community and AFRI, we gained more experi- and building a multifunctional area centre shows or events dedicated to ence and confidence in accessing the in Noșlac Commune, Alba County”, the citizens are organised, with a European Funds.” financed under the Measure great number of participants, wide 413.1 “Renovation of villages and pedestrian access gates were exe- The conclusion is that the activities equipping the territory”, whose le- cuted, green areas with ornamen- and projects executed by LAG proved gal representative was the Mayor, tal lamp posts were arranged, waste to be successful for the development Dumitru Pop. containers, flower stands and resting benches were installed. of the territory. Under this project, a multifunctional centre was established, which is As a result of the investment for the dedicated to the social and recrea- development, promotion and valori- tional activities, in order to provide sation of the local potential, the qua- services to the citizens. The building lity of life increases in the rural area. has a room where recreational activities can be carried out, locker rooms The Mayor of Noșlac Commune, Mr. with shower cabins, bathrooms and Dumitru Pop, explained: “In the be- toilets. PVC outdoor woodwork was ginning, I was not confident, but, executed for doors and windows with in the end, I was completely confi- thermopane glass and also connecti- dent. The successes obtained under on to utilities. Warm water is provi- LAG are a proof of the confidence in ded based on solar panel system. the European projects. If, in the beginning, we were novices in acces- Also, modernization and sing European funds, based on the

38 39 Rural Romania – no. 32

Among the projects in the pro- students of the Faculty of Agronomy of Although working at the farm is not It is an annual event and its scope is declared winners, namely the delega- Council of Rădești Commune and it cess of implementation, the pro- the University of Agronomic Science easy and requires their continuous to promote LAG territory, to present tions from Cetatea de Baltă, Noșlac was a good opportunity to meet the agricultural producers and associati- ject called “Set-up of the young far- and Veterinary Medicine from Cluj- presence, the Sălcudean’s say that the local traditions, to promote the and Lopadea Nouă. ons from the area. mer Sălcudean Costin Teodor” from Napoca, they have developed an ani- they do not envisage themselves el- local producers and to dissemi-nate mal husbandry micro-farm. The cur- The second day, the 6th of September, Ațintiș Commune, Mureș County, is sewhere, this being their passion sin- the potential and attractiveness of a model of good practice. rently have 12 dairy cows and they the territory. 2014, was dedicated to the organisati- In a décor of the abundant autumn, work 13 hectares of land. ce they were little. on of the fair, to which local producers organised with the support of the ve- were invited to present and sell their getable growers from Leorinț Village, The family of Sălcudean Costin The project submitted at „Pe Mureș și We can say that the proportions of The daily schedule is alert, waking up products. The sector dedicated to the adorned with the most beautiful vege- Teodor and Sălcudean Costin Maria the event have been increasing every at five o’clock in the morning, feeding pe Târnave” LAG under the Measure local producers was arranged with a tables, the event started with a com- impressed us with the passion for the animals, milking and taking the 411.12 – Set-up of young farmers, has year, in 2014, LAG team succeeding agriculture and the attachment to the rustic theme, so that the local traditi- petition exhibition of the farmers. As cows to the pasture. During the few facilitated for them the procurement to organise it very well. As com-pared a result of the competition organi- life in the countryside. The 2nd year ons to be ren-dered evident. The tents free hours at noon, the young farmers of new equipment: sowing machine, to the edition from 2013, in 2014, the for the producers were inscribed with zed in the “Autumn Harvest” event do their homework for the faculty, af- plough, milk cooling tank, equipment event lasted for two days. It started LAG logo and the name of the produ- from Noșlac, the people from Rădești terwards, resuming their work at the which, under other conditions, they on the 5th of September, 2014. This cers. Also, informative and promotion wanted to demonstrate that they are farm, preparing the stables for when first day was dedicated to promoting materials were made and distributed. the best vegetable growers of LAG. the cows return, followed by the eve- say that it would have been impos- the territory with everything it has of Therefore, the vegetable producers ning cow milking and milk straining, sible to procure. The farmers hope from Leorinț presented the baskets and, at the end of the day, studying that, in the future, they will extend value. The opening show was publici- The event was a good opportunity with the fruits of their work, not only for the faculty exams. the farm, reaching 30-40 cattle. sed on a television channel. Folkloric for „Pe Mureș și pe Târnave” Local ensembles from Jidvei, Cetatea de Action Group to announce its presen- abundant, but also with adornments Baltă, Sâncel, Șona, Teiuș, Rădești, ce and identity in the territory by dis- made with great skills. The partici- Lopadea Nouă, Noșlac, Fărău have tributing informative and promotio- pants were awarded with promotio- participated. The Autumn Harvest nal materials. At the same time, the nal materials (aprons, caps, pens, bro- chures) by „Pe Mureș și pe Târnave” Basket Competi-tion was organised “Autumn Harvest” from Noșlac was a good opportunity to interact with LAG and also with materials useful during the event, each locality from the territory. to the farmers by Redoxim S.R.L. and LAG presenting a beautifully gar- Agropataki S.R.L. nished basket with products. A jury, Also last year, on the 21st of September, consisting in representatives of each the event called “The Gardner’s Day” In order to enhance the attractiveness participating locality, was appointed was organised in Leorinț Village, of the event, a folkloric show was or- Folkloric Groups of Men at Mioveni); Events for the promotion in order to designate the most beauti- Rădești Commune. The event was organised with the ensembles from the “Dor Teiușan” Folkloric Ensemble of the territory ful basket. The baskets which obtai- ganised by „Pe Mureș și pe Târnave” territory of „Pe Mureș și pe Târnave” from Teiuș, which, although establi- ned the greatest number of votes were LAG in partnership with the Local LAG. shed in April, 2012, wants to pass In May, 2014, a show for the promo- along the Romanian folkloric dance, tion of the traditions from the terri- the tradition of Teiuș, to promote the tory of „Pe Mureș și pe Târnave” LAG folkloric song and the young folklore was filmed. The show was record-ed singers; “Pe Ulița Satului” Folkloric Famous artists from the area have also and broadcasted by a television chan- Group from Șona Commune, whi- nel. There were presented the tradi- participated in the show: Veta Biriș, ch impressed with the quality of the Ionuț Fulea, Reta Rus, Ina Todoran, tion bearers who keep and pass the cultural act and with the beauty of authentic folklore, like: Purtata fetelor Denisa Balu, Adina Popa, Grupul the Romanian traditional costumes; Obârșia. de la Căpâlna (The dance of the gir- “Izvorașul Fărău” Folkloric Group and ls from Căpâlna); Sâncelenii folklo- “Plaiuri Noșlăcane” Group from Mureș An event organized by „Pe Mureș ric group, established in 2001, with Valley have complemented the inte- și pe Târnave” LAG is the “Autumn an intense artistic activity (the la- grated picture of the folklore from the Harvest” from Noșlac. The latest test award won being the second pla- territory of „Pe Mureș și pe Târnave” edition took place between 5 and 6 ce in “Dorel Manea” Competition for LAG. September, 2014.

40 41 Rural Romania – no. 32

man from Checea Commune, Timiș „ Banat – Vest Local Action Group” County. The objectives of the project called “Procurement of photographic equipment” were the sustainable de- Association velopment of the rural economy, the withdrawn. 71 projects were submitted diversification of the services for the Banat – Vest Local Action Group (LAG)” Association is a public to the Agency for the Funding of Rural rural population and the increase of and private partnership with important role in the development Investment (AFRI), of which ten pro- the added value in the field of photo- of the territory that it represents. Banat – Vest LAG is a non-go- jects were withdrawn, four projects graphic services. vernmental association consisting in 60 members (12 public in- were declared non-eligible, and 57 pro- stitutions and 48 partners from the private sector). The cove- jects were declared eligible. Of the 57 Mr. Aragian Marko Oliver has been red territory is located in the West part of Timiș County, along projects declared eligible at AFRI, 56 passionate about photography since the borderline with Serbia, and it consists in Jimbolia City and projects are currently contracted, and high-school. He has tried to keep the 10 neighbouring communes: Cărpiniș, Cenei, Checea, Comloșu one project is in the contracting sta- pace with the novelties in the field, Mare, Gottlob, Iecea Mare, Lenauheim, Otelec, Săcălaz and Uivar. ge, totalizing EUR 2,249,106, of which and as the years went by, he succee- The territory comprises a total of 23 localities and it spreads on EUR 951,711 were reimbursed into the ded, from his own funds, to procure 88,087 hectares, occupying 10.13% of the total area of Timiș the first photo camera, not a state of account of the beneficiaries. Of the 57 farmers”, a measure which is part of the economic size and of modernizing County and 0.37% of the area of Romania. projects, 29 are part of the objective of the art camera, but one with which he Axis I “Increase of competitiveness in the apiarian farm has concretized into the measure 41.1.112, being one of the succeeded to continue his photographic the agricultural and forest sector” of adding another 55 families of bees to most accessed measure of Banat – Vest activity. Although he comes from a fa- Banat – Vest LAG Association projects were submitted and funded NRDP. On November 4th, 2014, the his property, procuring two hectares of GAL, together with measure 41.3.322, mily of farmers, the young man con- was authorized by the Ministry of under the following measures: 41.1.112 project was selected and submitted to land and 55 multi-level beehives. For which was accessed under 15 funding siders that though agriculture is the Agriculture and Rural Development – Set-up of young farmers; 41.1.121 – AFRI, and on February 2nd, 2015, the the beneficiary and community, the in 2011 and it has obtained funding of Modernization of agricultural holdings; applications. basic activity of the Romanian rural beneficiary succeeded to conclude the implementation of the project meant EUR 2,856,791, of which EUR 571,357 41.1.123 – Increase of the added va- area and it is the main source of inco- funding contract of EUR 40,000. The the increase of apiarian production, is the operation budget and EUR lue of agricultural products; 41.3.312 me for the people leaving in villages, increase of competitiveness in the sec- yielding a greater honey production of 2,285,433 is the non-repayable amount – Support for the establishment and Projects successfully we must not omit the fact that non- tor, the support provided to the process higher quality. dedicated to the implementation of the development of small enterprises; implemented in the agricultural activities are a solution of modernization of the apiarian hol- Local Development Plan (LDP) of LAG. 41.3.322 – Renovation, development territory for increasing the income and social Another example of a project suc- of villages, improvement of the basic ding and the increase of the income of income for them. Participating in a cessfully implemented in Banat – The development of LAG territory from services for the rural economy and po- The project called “Set-up of the farmer the holding are the main objectives of computer science seminar organized economic, social and cultural perspec- pulation and valorisation of the rural Jiboc Marius as manager of the hol- the project. The process of increasing Vest LAG territory is that of a young by Banat – Vest LAG, Aragian Marko tive by promoting projects funded from inheritance; 421 – Implementation of ding from Săcălaz Commune” is focu- the financial allocations made availa- cooperation projects. sed on the improvement and increase ble under NRDP – Axis IV LEADER, of competitiveness in the agricultural has constituted the main action direc- From 2012 to 2015, 79 projects were sector, valorisation of agricultural po- tion of Banat – Vest LAG. Thus, from submitted to Banat – Vest LAG, of tential and increase of productivity in 2012 to 2015, 14 project selection calls which one project was declared in- agricultural farms. were launched, as a result of which compliant and seven projects were Upon submitting the funding application, Marius Iosif Jiboc was not authorized to exercise an agricultural acti- ARAD vity. He was working in an apiarian farm and he finally decided to procu-

Gottlob re 175 families of bees and to initiate

Comloşu Mare Lenauheim his own business. The entrepreneuri- Iecea Mare al spirit and passion for beekeeping Jimbolia Cărpiniş HUNEDOARA were inspired by his parents, who, Săcălaz Checea Cenei because of their advanced age, could TIMIȘ not continue the agricultural activity. Uivar The opportunity to fund the establi-

Otelec shment and extension of the activity occurred when Banat – Vest Local Action Group launched and promoted the 4th selection session from 2014. Marius Iosif Jiboc succeeded to draw- CARAȘ SEVERIN up, with the help of a consultant, the funding application for accessing the measure 41.1.112 – “Set-up of young

42 43 Rural Romania – no. 32

MARD News and Events

Oliver succeeded to identify a measure adequate for the support of the photo- New measures for 2014-2020 NRDP, as of July graphic activity. After consulting life quality in rural areas and diversifica- The Minister of Agriculture and Rural in order to support the beneficiaries”, projects shall be submitted during tion of rural economy” NRDP, he deci- Development, Daniel Constantin, has said the Minister Daniel Constantin. continuous sessions with monthly ded to take all the measures in order to announced the implementation of new assessment. submit the funding application to Banat measures from 2014-2020 National As of July 1st, project may be submitted – Vest LAG. With the help of a specialty Rural Development Programme under 2014-2020 NRDP, within the Additionally, the beneficiaries are no consultant, he obtained the necessary (NRDP) as of July. The announce- Fruit-Growing Sub-programme, whi- longer constrained to procure as many permits and, during the first session ment was made at the second National ch disposes this year of an allocation documents as it was necessary in the from 2013, he submitted the funding Conference “The Development of the of over 75 million Euro, Sub-measure previous years, because, the number application. After the assessment with Romanian Village Continues”, an event 4.2 – “Support for investments in the of permits and approvals necessary regard to compliance and eligibility, on organized on June 15th, 2015 by the processing/marketing of agricultu- to initiate the projects with non-re- ral products” (143 million Euro), Sub- June 19th, 2013, the project was selec- National Rural Development Network payable European funds was dimi- measure 4.3 – “Investments for the nished. Also, MARD has initiated the ted for funding and it was submitted to and the Ministry of Agriculture and development, modernization or adap- procedures, so that NRDP beneficia- AFRI. In the same year, on November Rural Development. tation of agricultural and forest in- ries shall receive a series of permits 15th, 2013, he succeeded to sign the frastructure” by which 435 million and approvals at AFRI level, no longer funding contract in amount of EUR „On July 1st, new measures with Euro may be accessed based on irri- being necessary for them to go to the 10,301 (amount representing the non- events which take place in Checea of EUR 2,285,433 are a special result of European funding are opened, repre- gation component, Sub-measure 6.2 – offices of public institutions authori- repayable public percentage of 70% of Commune, on the radius of which no the activity carried out by Banat – Vest senting the main source of funding for “Support for the establishment of non- zed to issue such documents. the total investment) and he started to the sector. Within the last three years, company was operating in this field pri- LAG, but especially a solid fundament agricultural activities in rural areas” implement the project. Aragian Marko or to the implementation of the project. for the future, when it would be possi- Romania has benefited by an infusion (44 million Euro), Sub-measure 6.3 “An important element, designed to Oliver procured a state of the art photo ble to valorise the experience acquired of over eight billion Euro, European – “Support for the development of support the small and middle-size far- camera, lenses and a laptop in order to Thus, we can say that the activity of during almost four years of activity. funds which have helped in the deve- small farms” (over 72 million Euro), mers, is the standard projects avai- provide photographic services. Banat – Vest LAG Association was sig- lopment of the Romanian agriculture, Sub-measure 6.4 – “Investments in lable on MARD and also AFRI web- nificant in the territory and it had a Based on its activity and the organised this being also observed in the results the establishment and development of site. Thus, we want to contribute to As a result of implementing the pro- positive impact on the social and eco- events, Banat – Vest LAG Association with regard to the national and inter- non-agricultural activities” (57 milli- the decrease of the costs afferent to ject, Aragian Marko Oliver Authorized nomic environment from the area. has contributed for certain to the incre- national commerce. 2015 is a year in on Euro). the consultancy services”, said Daniel Natural Person succeeded to provide Contracting EUR 2,249,106 and ab- ase of visibility of LAG territory, and it which we close 2007-2013 NRDP and Constantin. photographic services, currently being sorbing EUR 951,711 from the non-re- has succeeded to put the building block we have the ambition to end the pro- The Minister of Agriculture has revi- an important resource for the various payable financial allocations in amount of a future economic development. gramme with an absorption degree as sed a part of the novelty and simplifi- In order to ensure co-funding, the be- high as possible, but we face a series of cation elements of 2014-2020 NRDP. neficiaries may also submit confor- difficulties, the main issue being the Among these, there is the online sub- mity letters issued by non-banking lack of co-funding from the private mission of the projects, which shall financial institutions (NFI), and tho- beneficiaries. We have learnt from the contribute to the decrease of the time se who must make procurements may experience acquired during the imple- necessary to submit them and of the consult the data base with reference mentation of the previous 2007-2013 costs borne by the beneficiaries, as a prices created by AFRI and published programme, and we have succeeded to result of the fact that they is no longer on the website of the agency. include in the new programme a series mandatory for them to go to the county of elements which simplify the proce- offices of the Agency for the Funding In turn, the State Secretary George dure for accessing the European funds of Rural Investment (AFRI). Also, the Turtoi declared that the data base with reference prices shall be extended for the service area. “For the assets or services which are not found in the data base, a simplified proce- dure is available on AFRI website, a kind of ESPP (Electronic System for Public Procurements) for beneficiaries. Standard procurement templa- tes shall be also drawn-up and we intend to launch accession packages for certain categories of beneficiaries: for example, if a beneficiary wants to access the measure for young farmers, but also the one for investments, to be able to submit a single funding application”, explained the state secretary – George Turtoi.

44 45 Rural Romania – no. 32

NRDN MEMBERS INTRODUCE THEMSELVES

“Romontana”, together with other Main projects in The information and communicati- „Romontana” National Association for organizations which act within the the process of on technologies, including e-learning, interest of sustainable develop- online sharing platform, desktop and ment of the mountain area from implementation mobile applications and also the trai- Mountain Rural Development Romania, like the Mountain Forum ning method, shall facilitate the in- from Romania, “Dorna” Federation InRuTou – Innovation in Rural tegration of the knowledge and the “Romontana” National Association for Mountain Rural of Mountain Farmers, Heifer Tourism is a project in the process exchange of experience between the Development was established in 2000 as non-governmental mul- Foundation for Romania, had a sig- of implementation by “Romontana” local actors from the community, ea- ti-sectoral organisation in order to support the general develop- nificant contribution to drawing-up in partnership with: IMC University sing the mutual creation of innovati- ment of the mountain areas from Romania. the “National Strategic Orientations of Applied Sciences from Krems ve solutions, and also new networks for the Sustainable Development of the (Austria), UNEP Vienna – Interim of suppliers of tourist product, esta- The objectives of the Association are met based on specific pro- Disadvantaged Mountain Area (2014- Secretariat of Carpathian Convention blishment of connections between jects and activities which focus on one or several fields of activi- 2020)” approved under Memorandum (Austria), EURAC – European communities and the international by the Government of Romania in May, ty, like the sustainable development in the mountain area (tou- Academy (Bolzano, Italy), SCIENTER tourism market or the development of 2014, being in a permanent dialogue rism, forest sector, agriculture), community development, envi- (Italy), SEED (Switzerland), University the tourist offer from the rural area. with the Ministry of Agriculture and This vocational training programme, ronment protection, vocational training. of Bournemouth (Great Britain), Rural Development and with other based on information and communi- Ekopsychology (Poland) and Green state institutions in charge of the im- cation technologies, with technologi- Dossier (Ukraine). The project is fun- 2000 – 2015: „15 years of of Mountain Regions – www.euromon- plementation and monitoring of the cal instruments and innovative cur- ded based on a grant of the European activity for the purpose tana.org) and SAB (Swiss Association results of this strategic document. riculum, supports the emancipation of Mountain Regions – www.sab.ch), Commission under Lifelong Learning of rural communities, encouraging of promoting the values funded by SDC (Swiss Association At international level, the associati- Programme. the public participation and reinfor- and supporting the for Development and Cooperation), on is member of the three of the gre- cing the role of the tourism innovators sustainable development and also numerous local development atest organisations which address InRuTou project is intended to deve- who carry out their activity in the re- the subject of sustainable develop- of the mountain area projects. lop and test a set of innovating instru- gion, allowing to these actors to be- ment of the mountain areas, na- ments and models, which to facilitate come “opinion makers” (according to from Romania” From 2006 to 2015, “Romontana” has mely, “Euromontana” – European the sustainable development of the ru- the selection made during public con- implemented, in the capacity of be- Association of Mountain Regions, ral tourism in the mountain regions by sultations) in the communities from Mountain Partnership (UN/FAO) and During 15 years of existence, neficiary and partner, several cross- consulting the target communities and which they come and to train other World Rural Forum, in this way being “Romontana” has acquired vast expe- border cooperation projects betwe- training the opinion makers as fac- actors from community. involved in activities of European and rience in implementing the rural deve- en Romania, Ukraine and Republic tors of multiplication in the commu- global interest focused on the moun- lopment projects and also in drawing- of Moldova, funded under PHARE nity, in turn, becoming trainers for Greenovation Challenge – a bila- up mountain policies and strategies, tain areas. “Romontana” is dialogue teral project of ecological educati- CBC – Romania-Ukraine Cross- and implementation partner of the the operators from the local tourism which support the central, regional border Cooperation Programme, with different degrees of experience on of Romania and Norway, fun- Interim Secretariat of Carpathian ded under 2009-2014 EEA grants, and local public authorities. but also from other external so- and education, in this way consoli- Convention hosted by the United within NGO Fund in Romania. The urces: “Education for Sustainable dating the process of planning in the Nation Environment Organisation direct beneficiary of the project is From 2001 to 2006, “Romontana” Development in Mountain Rural Ares rural tourism. (UNEP Vienna). Junior Achievement Romania, and has implemented several small sca- by Agri-tourism – Mountain Kiss”, “Romontana” is partner together le projects in cooperation with “Integration of the border regions in development”, “Environment Plus – with Ungt Entreprenørskap Sogn og Euromontana (European Association the field of rural and green tourism decrease of waste impact on the en- Fjordane from Norway. From 2014 to vironment. Cross-border solutions 2016, the project shall involve at least and issues”, “Cross-border manage- 40 teachers and 900 high-school stu- ment and intervention consortium dents from the mountain areas, having for the protection of above-ground as scope the development of the skills waters from Romania-Ukraine bor- of the young students for innovation der region – CMIC”, “Move4Nature in sustainable development, providing – Establishment of the Educational students with a unique educational Training Instrument for Sustainable experience by: Development in Carpathian a) carrying out during the lessons Mountains – Educational Guide of the practical educational activities, School from Carpathian Mountains” learning by doing, with environ- etc. ment themes (Eco-nomy module), facilitated by teachers who will “Romontana” also has relevant expe- benefit by free training and edu- rience in organising events, like, na- cational materials; tional and international conferences, b) participation of students in civic seminars, workshops, courses, exhi- culture activities and actual in- bitions, fairs and other similar events. volvement in the community and

46 47 Rural Romania – no. 32

Federation of the Cattle Breeders from Romania Together we ensure the The Federation of Cattle Breeders from Romania (FCBR) is a professional organisation which comprises 32 county associa- future of the cattle farms tions of the cow breeding farmers, and also the Association of from Romania the Farmers who distribute milk via milk dispensers and whose members are the cattle breeders who hold 67% of the cattle Currently, FCBR has national repre- from the country. The mandatory condition to be a member of sentation, having affiliated organisa- the Federation is to own animals from the cattle specie. When tions of cattle breeders from 32 coun- there is no animal in the holding, the capacity of member shall ties of Romania. be automatically lost. The scope of the federation is to defend the interests of the cattle breeders in The Federation of Cattle Breeders long time, the farmers ascertained their relations with state institutions, from Romania was established in that, together, they have other force organisations from other fields of ac- 2007, together with the accession of of negotiation with the state institu- tivity with involvement in the cattle our country in the European Union tions especially that the first forms breeding activity and also with other (EU), as a necessity of the farmers who of financial support occurred for the national and international farmers’ realized that they could not benefit by cattle breeding sector from Romania. organisation structures. the rights conferred by the European legislation, established under the If in the beginning only eight orga- The Federation of Cattle Breeders Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), nizations registered in the federati- from Romania actively participates communication with local autho- reinforcing the managerial capacity of created, being the direct beneficiaries and that they were no longer able to on, in the following year – 2008, the in drawing-up regulatory acts, whi- rities and in competition for the the owners’ associations and by conso- of the activities of the project and of deal with the competition on the mar- number of the members has reached ch refer to the agricultural sector innovative solving of sustainable lidating the capacity of “Nostra Silva” its results. ket. Once Romania accessed EU, our 22 affiliated county associations, this development issues specific to the Federation of Forest Owners in order from the country and at the level of country opened its market, which de- determining the acknowledgement of mountain areas (the competition to become a key actor in representing Until the completion of the project in the European Union, under COPA- termined an excess of dairy and beef FCBR by all state institutions and all COGECA, an organisation which will have several stages: local, na- the interests of its members. An im- 2017, it is intended as follows: products. At that time, the Romanian tional, international); social partners as a solid professional FCBR is part of. The federation pro- portant objective of the project is re- farmers were de-capitalized and disor- c) involvement of the students in • improvement of the animal gra- organisation. vides to its members consultancy in presented by the forest certification in ganized, they did not have available bilateral educational events in PEFC and/or FSC system in the pilot zing and watering conditions; development programmes, they did which the students from Romania area, national standards being drafted • modernization of the stables for not benefit by forms of support with will collaborate with students under the project for forest certificati- animals; European funding, which determined from Norway in order to generate on in PEFC system. The implementa- • modernization of sheepfolds, whi- solutions for the concrete issues. tion of the standards shall be coordi- ch to correspond to the European the situation in which they produced in exchange of uncompetitive prices „Reinforcement of the capacity of nated by a national PEFC body, which standards, but which shall keep for the market. the forest owner associations for shall be created based on the activities the traditional character of the a sustainable forest management” of the project. mountain sheep breeding; is a project co-funded based on a • creation of opportunities to sell Also during that period, milk and meat grant from Switzerland under the The sustainable agricultural models the traditional products by te- processing multinational companies Swiss Contribution for the Extended for the mountain areas from Romania chnical product specifications, established in Romania, offering very European Union (Swiss-Romanian are a project initiated in 2014 by a marketing study and unitary la- low prices for the Romanian raw pro- Cooperation Programme). consortium consisting in SAB (Swiss belling of the products; duction, knowing the gap in the orga- Association of Mountain Regions), • organisation of promotion events nisation of the farmers from Romania. The partners of the project are: “Dorna” Federation of Mountain for the traditional products, at lo- This fact overlapped the period in whi- SAB Switzerland (www.sab.ch), Farmers, Agrom Ro, Heifer Romanian cal, regional and national level; ch almost all processing factories from ROMONTANA (www.romontana. and Romontana, by which it is inten- • improvement of professional Romania were bankrupt as a result of org), HEIFER Romania (www.hei- ded to develop the agricultural models skills of the personnel from shee- the privatisation system. fer.ro), „Ștefan cel Mare” University from the mountain area of Romania pfolds by organizing certified of Suceava (www.usv.ro) and „Nostra by integrating the traditional activi- professional courses; Under these conditions, a few of the Silva” – Federation of the Forest and ties in the modern economic system. • organisation of exchanges of good county associations operating at that Pasture Owners from Romania (www. practices with similar structures nostrasilva.ro). In order to comply with this general time in Romania understood that objective, partnerships with six local from France, Switzerland, Spain; the farmers, by themselves, could The project provides contributions for associations of animal breeders from • promotion and dissemination of not do anything, and this is how the an integrated and sustainable mana- Suceava, Bistrița-Năsăud, Mureș, results by preparing a good prac- Federation of the Cattle Breeders from gement of the forest from Romania by Harghita, Neamț and Vrancea were tice guide. Romania was established. Not after

48 49 Rural Romania – no. 32

the agricultural and related fields. It of experts of NRDN for the (SVFSD), Directorate for ensures the negotiation with the pro- promotion of 2014-2020 CAP, Agriculture and Rural Pro-Romanian Food Association – PRFA cessers of the prices for the products and also in that responsible for Development (DARD) and also prepared in farms. It provides services LTG within the National Rural other institutions with which the For the first time in Romania, in 2012, to farmers under the Programme for Development Network; farmers have collaboration rela- Pro-Romanian Food Association – PRFA is a non-governmental PRFA has funded the creation of a con- the Control of Performances in Cattle - The federation was engaged in tions in the territory; non-profit apolitical organisation established in March, 2012, cept for the promotion of the image based on the free association of several producers from the food Specie. It organises and promotes ex- drawing-up 2014-2020 NRDP at - The federation is present in me- of the Romanian agri-food products industry, who have identified the need to promote the Ro-manian perience exchanges with cattle bree- all meetings and working groups dia, on television channels, at in the relevant international fairs, products both on national and international market. the concept being presented to the ders from other states, like Holland, of MARD, being a member in the radio, in national and local pre- public at ALIMENTARIA European Austria, Hungary, Germany, France, monitoring committee; ss, which constantly inform the Republic of Moldova, Bulgaria, Czech PRFA mission is to make of the Romanian agri-food products an Exhibition from 2012, which took pla- - FCBR is member of the farmers with regard to their ri- engine of the economic growth of Romania and a reason of na- Republic. ce at Barcelona, Spain. After this event, Consultative Council of the ghts and obligations. tional pride. numerous promotion actions at inter- National Sanitary Veterinary 3. Future objectives The activities and objectives of nal and international level followed, and Food Safety Authority - The federation shall continue to FCBR are: Pro-Romania Food Association inspi- – PRO AGRO, and it took over the re- contributing to the development of the (NSVFSA) -; encourage the affiliation of other res based on the values it shares, on its presentation position from the Civil image and trust of consumers in the 1. Commercial activities - It is member of the National associative structures from the mission, vision and originality. PRFA Dialogue groups at European level Romanian agri-food products. - Trading live animals, both for Union of the Romanian counties in which they do not addresses especially to the producers for the “Quality and Promotion of reproduction and for fattening; Employers, the only employers’ have representation; and processers from agri-food sector, Products”. Our representatives have PRFA has actively participated in the - Trading milk and dairy products; form which has representative- - FCBR shall encourage the county providing to them, depending on the actively participated in drawing-up campaigns for the reintroduction of the - Trading meat and meat products; ness in the agricultural sector, associations to establish coope- size, specificity and individual objec- the new regulation regarding the “Romanian Forcemeat Balls” (Micul Românesc) in the European area, this - Trading cereals and fodder and through the agency of this ratives and groups of producers tives, solutions for their promotion on Promotion of Agri-food Products – attesting the acknowledgement of our plants; structure of the employers, which to allow them to sell all the retail markets. (EU) Regulation no. 1144/2014 of the national traditions in European con- - Input trading (fertilizers, fuels FCBR is member with full ri- the products of their members European Parliament and Council of etc.). text, in the campaign for decreasing ghts in the social dialogue in an organized way and at real Our association has 60 members who October 22nd, 2014, on the informa- 2. Information and documenta- the value added tax for food, in esta- commissions from the Ministry profitable prices; are active in the food industry and tion and pro-motion actions regar- tion activities blishing a framework favourable for of Agriculture and Rural - It shall take over or develop fac- whose turnover totalizes one billion ding the agricultural products appli- - Participation in relevant fairs the promotion of the Romanian qua- Development and from other tories which to process via these Euro, the amount representing over ed on the internal market and in the lity products under 2014-2020 NRDP and exhibitions; seven ministries. Through the cooperatives, allowing to the 12% of the total Romanian food sector. third countries. In the capacity of PRO measures. - Sessions of information and AGRO member, PRFA has acquired agency of the National Union of members to valorise the milk documentation, identificati- In 2013, PRFA became member of the the status of member in the Export the Romanian Employers, FCBR from the farms of the cow bree- The future objectives which PRFA on of the common issues of the National Federation of the Producers Council of Romania, organising the members have mandates of re- ders from the federation at high proposes are the establishment of an farmers from the states of the from Agriculture, Food Industry most important external promotion presentation at county level in quality standards; Agency for the Pro-Romanian Agri- European Union and their joint and Related Services from Romania ac-tions for the Romanian producers. food Products – APRAP; imple-menta- the social dialogue commissi- - FCBR shall continue to actively support before the European tion of 3A European priority in NRDP, ons from Prefectures, Territorial participate in preparing regula- and national institutions; a measure which to support the quality - Development of cross-border Labour Inspectorates (TLI), ting acts for the regulation of the schemes and the promotion of products projects with regard to this field County Employment Agencies activity of the members and for based on Euro-pean money; participa- of activity; (CEA), Sanitary, Veterinary their protection from the market tion in internal and international fairs - FCBR is engaged in the group and Food Safety Directorates distortions. and economic missions and promotion of a framework favourable to Romanian products both on internal and international market.

At the same time, PRFA intends to register at European level at least ten products in 2016, which to provide notori- ety to Romania.

Some of its members are: Cristim, Boromir, Scandia, Natural, Unilact, Elit, Coco Rico, Agrisol, Topoloveni, Rostar, Apiprodex, La Provincia, Andromi, Kosarom, Doripesco, Mere de Itești, Livada Transilvana, Panbac, Orlando, Kalpo, Bere Zimbru, Mariflor, Moldovan, Patisimo, Ino-rogul etc.

50 51 Rural Romania – no. 32

We invite you to participate to the editing of a magazine The main actions to take place from March, 2012 until May, 2015, organised for the purpose of promoting the Romanian Do you want to share your experience products: of rural development for a possible Event Period Alimentaria, Barcelona 26-29 March, 2012 publication in the magazine? SIAL, Paris 21-25 October, 2012 Matching, Milan 26-28 November, 2012 Biofach, Germany 12-17 February, 2013 Photos and images Gulfood Dubai 24 February – Participation 3 March, 2013 17-20 martie 2013 • The images have to illustrate an experience. IFE, London 17-20 March, 2013 Meknes, Morocco 22-28 April, 2013 guide These information are only indicative PLMA, Amsterdam 27-31 May, 2013 • The images will be sent as separate electronic files (high for the homogeneity of contributions. Ulm, Germany 10-16 June, 2013 resolution >300 dpi and >850KB). The authors understand that editori- Anuga, Germany 5-9 October, 2013 al staff can modify the received text CIMIE, China 12-17 October, 2013 • All files that contain images will be sent in .JPEG format. for a better understanding. Carnexpo, Romania 23-26 October, 2013 • Author: Has to be identified with Alimentaria, Barcelona 30 March - name, surname and current occu- • Please include a short title for each photo/image you send, as 3 April, 2014 19-23 octombrie 2014 pation. well as the name of the photographer/author. PLMA, Amsterdam 20-21 May, 2014 • Introduction: A short introduc- SIAL, Paris 19-23 October, 2014 tion should be included, in which IndAgra, Bucharest 29 October - to emphasise the relevance of the 2 November, 2014 19-20 mai 2015 chosen topic. IFE, London 22-25 March, 2015 Letters to the editor • Length of the article: 400-800 Tutto Food, Milan 3-6 May, 2015 words PLMA, Amsterdam 19-20 May, 2015 • The letters have to be related to a rural • Correct information: Only For this autumn, the following offer information that you are development subject and they should not exceed 200 words. events are prepared: 100% sure of and that you can prove. Mention the source of in- Event Period formation, when you describe data • Editors can modify the text, in order to adapt Speciality & Fine Food 5-9 September, 2015 coming from other institutions or it to the style, length, clarity and accuracy Fair, Lon-don organisations. necessary and they do not guarantee that all Anuga, Germany 10-14 October, 2015 • Style: As it is a magazine article, letters will be published. The promotion programme the text should not have the aspect for 2016 includes the following of a report. Therefore, it is sugges- • When there is not enough space, the letters ted: that are not published in the magazine may actions: »»To have clear phrasing. be published on the NRDN website. Event Period »»To offer relevant information to ISM, Koln 31 January - support the main idea of the ar- 3 February, 2016 21-25 februarie 2016 ticle, and not all the details of the Gulfood, Dubai 21-25 February, 2016 project. SIAL, Canada 13-15 April, 2016 »»To avoid an excess of acronyms. Alimentaria, Barcelona 25-28 April, 2016 »»The full title, followed by the F&H Africa 3-5 May, 2016 acronym, has to be inserted when Johannesburg it appears in the text for the first NRA Show, Chicago 21-24 May, 2016 time. We invite you to send your experiences, PLMA, Amsterdam 24-25 May, 2016 »»To avoid external comments and photos, letters and articles at the SIAL, Paris 16-20 October, 2016 references that may be controver- sial or misunderstood. address: [email protected]

52 53 OPEN TO THE FUTURE

ROOTS OF A EUROPEAN COUNTRY

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

This publication was produced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Romania, as part of the project “Founding and Supporting the National Rural Development Network.” Project co-funded under the EAFRD through Measure 511 of the National Rural Development Programme 2007-2013. June, 2015 The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. It is distributed free of charge.