RomâniaRural Ro Rumarnail a ă NNATIONALAReţeauaTIONAL NaţioR RURALURAnLa D DEVELOPMENTlăEdVeELDOePzvMoltareENT N NETWORK RuETrWa OlăRK

NIssueumăr u26l 3 AnYuelaIrI,ISIe, pAtpermilb2r0ie15 2014

AAFS researchers A programme is necessary to transfer knowledge to farmers

Bujoru vine – a success of the researchers from Galați

South Dobrogea Cooperative The successful story of the farmers from Dobrogea

Lesson of entrepreneurship and technology Super-intensive pear orchard at Stăuini, Alba County

RĂDĂCINI DE ŢARĂ EUROPEANĂ Rural Romania – No. 26

REGIONAL OFFICES Supporting Unit of the National Rural Development Network CONTENTS

BRĂILA 282, Independenţei Blvd., 1st floor, postal code 810124, [email protected] EDITORIAL ...... 3 Tel.: 0339 732 009, Facsimile: 0339 732 016

CRAIOVA INTERVIEW 19, Libertăţii St., postal code 200421, Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture, room L-311, 2nd floor, AAFS (The Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences) researchers: Romanian agricultural research needs financing and [email protected] personnel ...... 4 Tel.: 0251 460 377, Facsimile: 0251 423 651

ZALĂU RURAL DEVELOPMENT 49, Kossuth Lajos St., postal code 450010, [email protected] The research activity within the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine from Cluj-Napoca supports the Tel.: 0360 404 056, Facsimile: 0360 404 158 farmers ...... 8

TÂRGU MUREȘ Automatic weather stations used by Estonians in fighting the soft rot of potatoes ...... 10

60, Mihai Eminescu St., postal code 540331, [email protected] Dissemination of research and innovation results among Spanish farmers...... 12 Tel.: 0365 430 349, Facsimile: 0365 430 351 Transfer of research results to the economic field: AgroTransilvania Cluster, a good practice model ...... 14 IAŞI Effect of climate change on agriculture...... 18 Ciric Entertainment Area – Ciric Entertainment Complex, postal code 700064, A success of Romanian wine-growing research: Bujoru variety, the successful result of 18 years of work of the researchers [email protected] from Galaţi ...... 20 Tel.: 0332 881 281, Facsimile: 0332 881 282 Partnership between universities and the economic field for research: a win-win situation ...... 22

TIMIŞOARA The calendar of our villages ...... 24

53, Take Ionescu Blvd., 2nd floor, office 26, postal code 300074, [email protected] Easter in the Romanian countryside: tradition, faith and cheerfulness ...... 28 Tel.: 0356 460 982, Facsimile: 0356 460 983

TÂRGOVIŞTE PEOPLE 7A, Vărzaru Armaşu St., postal code 130169, usr.sud.muntenia@rndr.ro Maria Hulea from Gorj County, the woman who blesses the place ...... 32 Tel.: 0345 100 605, Facsimile: 0345 100 025 Bacău Vegetable Growing Research and Development Unit: the brands created in 30 years provide self-financing ...... 34 BUCUREŞTI 39-41, Nicolae Filipescu St., 6th floor, 2nd District, postal code 020961, EXPERIENCES [email protected] My farm: Tel.: 0316 900 214, Facsimile: 0316 900 215 Super-intensive pear orchard from Stăuini, Alba County – the impact of Spanish experience, a lesson of entrepreneurship

and technology ...... 36 The text of this publication is for informative purpose only and does not entail legal responsibility. My business:

South Dobrogea Cooperative, the successful story of the farmers from Dobrogea ...... 38 Additional information on MARD and NSU can be accessed on the Internet: www.madr.ro, www.rndr.ro My community:

NSU, Department of Publications, April 2015 Heroiu Orchard supports the community: jobs for the villagers from Dobrești, Argeș County ...... 40 ISSN 2393 – 123X ISSN-L 2393 – 123X © NRDN, 2015 LEADER TO DATE “Heart of Giurgiu” LAG – Neajlovului and Câlniștei Region ...... 42 The reproduction of the texts of this publication is authorized provided that the source is mentioned. „Mureșean Partnership” Local Action Group...... 44 Printed in Romania.

Copyright for photographs: USAMV Cluj-Napoca, Felix Arion, Alina Donici, www.vforvintage.ro, Daniel Mosessohn, MARD NEWS...... 46

Iulia Gorneanu, Mircea Ursache, Andreea Chiru, Liviu Brădean, Cătălina Orsivschi, Funda ia PACT, Ionu Lungoci, NRDN MEMBERS INTRODUCE THEMSELVES ...... 48 Mihai Heroiu, GAL Inima Giurgiului – Ţara Neajlovului și a Câlniștei, Grupul de Ac iune Locală „Parteneriat Mureșean”, S.C.D.A. Brăila, Sta iunea de Cercetare-Dezvoltare Horticolă Târgu – Jiu, SCDL Bacău, Ionela Morar România ru rală – Nr. 5

Editorial

Romanian agricultural research – an important role in the development of agriculture

Although, it has been facing underfinancing for several years, the agricultural research has not ceased to support the agriculture from Romania. Four prestigious members of „Gheorghe Ionescu- Sișești” Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences speak to us about the situation and the role of the Romanian agricultural research: Prof. Dr. Mihai Nicolescu, AAFS Vice-President, Dr. Eng. Aurel Badiu, AAFS Scientific Secretary, Prof. Dr. Ioan Jelev, Counsellor of AAFS President, and Cipriana Budeanu, Specialty Inspector. 2014- 2020 National Rural Development Programme is focused on the transfer of information and innovation. AAFS representatives, researchers dedicated to their family who returned home after who answered our questions, profession. Dr. Eng. Silvica working abroad and who studied consider that we need a programme Ambaruș, Manager of Bacău and adapted the techniques applied Vegetable Growing Research and to transfer research knowledge to all in Spain to grow a modern pear Development Unit, the author of farmers, irrespective of the orchard in Alba County. agricultural holding. several patents for new varieties of plants, believes that the research The University of Agricultural units have survived due to the The „Calendar of our villages”, for Sciences and Veterinary Medicine brands they have created. Alina this month, is governed by the from Cluj-Napoca, one of the Donici works as scientific Easter Holiday, which is full of research institutions acknowledged researcher at Bujoru Unit of Wine- traditions. A few of the customs Growing and Wine-Making at national level, presents its from various areas of the country, activity, achievements and Research and Development from like egg dying, “Easter fires”, novelties. Among the latter ones, Galaţi County, which is going to there is the establishment of the launch on the market a new vine “Round funeral feast dance” from Biodiversity Research Centre, the variety, the result of the efforts Olt County are presented in the first of this kind from Romania. The made by the research team during pages of the magazine. Centre will house the Gene Bank, 18 years. Christ has risen! where the University has been keeping, for 50 years, seeds from You can also read about Dobrogea Viviana Vasile , Team Leader of over 1,000 varieties of plants from South Cooperative and the the entire territory of Romania. advantages of the association of the „Establishment and Support of farmers, and also about the the National Rural Development We also introduce you to two business started by a Romanian Network” Project

2 3 Rural Romania – No. 26

fundamental or fundamentally applicative “adaptation” must consider the particular The response to the public concern is researches. In other words, their eco-geographical aspects in which it is relatively simple: an integrated and at the Interview predictable results are generating less new desired to apply it, or, without agricultural same time integrating agricultural knowledge, being rather an innovative research, there is no chance of success. research network equipped with the latest rearrangement of already acquired means of investigations, which to analyse knowledge. Actually, the adaptation implies a the regional and local risks, offer and laborious and costly research (often more consumptions and which to find the most AAFS researchers: Romanian agricultural research In this context, their gain, from the laborious and more costly than the adequate solutions for the mitigation of perspective of the main scope of the production of own RDI results). There are risks, with minimum consumption of needs financing and personnel research, is sensitively smaller. Obviously, plenty of examples! The outperforming fresh water and others. on the other hand, their innovative aspect varieties of wheat, barley, two-row barley, is better marked, therefore, the appetence corn, sunflower, imported from the We should also add the varieties and Euro. of potential users for the results of the Atlantic region, which, in some years, in breeds, capable of providing an researches should be greater. the national weather-climatic conditions, economically satisfactory productive The endless restructuring of the system Unfortunately, the implementation of the have actually left the silos empty; the response, adapted to low water and the low and unsecure income of the innovation has two major drawbacks, seeding material sensitive to the diseases consumption, to the attack of specific and research personnel have depopulated RDI namely: the conservatism of potential and pests existing in geo/climatic space of unspecific diseases and pests, which are institutions, which ended up operating users (mostly due to the market risk of the Romania; the extremely costly and expected to minimize their incidence and with a reduced number of researchers, product which incorporates innovation), inefficient phytopharmaceutical products aggressiveness (see the mice invasions many fields of research remaining and the lack of financial resources for their etc. within the last years). And, obviously, uncovered or supported at national level implementation. financing of the fundamental and by one or two researchers, considering Maybe the most obvious example of the fundamentally applicative researches in that the watchword in the field of research Why do we need our own necessity of acquiring “knowledge” the field / specific fields, because there are at European level and worldwide is agricultural research? Why couldn’t (therefore, research) in the area in which areas of knowledge less explored in the “research team”. we adapt the results of the you are going to sell the merchandise national agricultural research, maybe also researches of other countries? which integrate it are the multinational because we have not complied with such How did it come to this? It was passed companies that supply inputs for challenge from historical perspective. from the system in which recruitment and Agriculture is completely dependent on agriculture. The moved a part of their vocational training of young specialists soil and climate conditions and water testing activity on the market they intend Still, the Romanian agricultural research had the statute of public policy to a system resources. Even on the territory of to sell the merchandise, and lately, even has a series of remarkable results in this in which the market principles (obviously, Romania, the varieties which are efficient the research activity, in order to direction (conservative agricultural the labour market!) have become the only in Bărăgan Plain do not correspond on immediately gain both financially and technologies, varieties adapted to draught recruitment mechanisms. Moldavian Plateau, in Transylvania, competitively. The question is why? The and heat, specific diseases and pests etc.), Maramureș or Banat. They are the result most probable answer is that, together even a research unit (CCD for the The need existed and it still exists. The of a long term research adapted to the with the disappearance of the market cultivation of plants in sands at Dăbuleni), demand has been blocked for a good local soil, climate and water conditions. competition represented by the Romanian but together with the extension and period of time (you do remember the Therefore, our great scientist, Gheorghe agricultural research, a huge market increase in intensity of phenomena famous 7:1 ratio – 7 dismissed persons for Ionescu - Sișești, the founder of the segment that provides obvious profit derived from the global climate changes, agricultural research in Romania of one hired person), but the salary offer for Romanian agricultural research, has remains unoccupied. And who is going to the researches should also be extended in • For the modernization of the year 2015? a young employee is absolutely ardently supported the creation and occupy it if not the proximity competition? the area of introducing new species of agriculture and increase of farm unattractive. Those who still access the development of our own research and not agri-food and forestry interest (meso- income, a national programme for Like a system operating close to failure in system do not even hide the fact that this the import of foreign solutions unsuitable For some of the temporary administrators xerophilous or xerophilous), the low water the transfer of information from the relation to the requirements and is only a stage necessary in their for the conditions of our country. of the national agriculture, these are small consumption techniques, the preserving research field to all farmers, challenges of society. Why “operating vocational training (master’s degree, PhD) unessential details. Maybe it is time for technologies, because, from scientific irrespective of the size of the close to failure”? The justification of the in order to open the doors of the At the same time, the production of own them to remember the fact that the “devil” perspective, the main challenge is that of holding, is necessary. answer lays in a simple statistics: in multinational companies in the field or of scientific agricultural knowledge allows to is in the small details. the intervention measures for the France (the engine of the European a promising career abroad. a state with a significant agricultural preservation of soil fertility in agri- In order to find out answers with regard to agricultural research and, consequently, of Those few research projects financed by economic size to trade food at costs which There are discussions about global environmental areas with high risk of the Romanian agricultural research, its the European agriculture), there is an the Ministry of Education and Scientific to consolidate its competitiveness and warming, desertification, possible desertification. role in the modernization of Romanian agricultural specialist hired by the public Research (partnership projects) only for position on the market. In order to difficulties in providing the water agriculture and also to the transfer of network of research, development and the national institutes of research- support the assertion, we refer to the requirement. How does research How can we make the research knowledge to farmers, “Rural Romania” innovation (RDI) for every 2,000 development-innovation (RDI), a very international legislation on the circulation respond to these concerns? more accessible for the farmers? magazine contacted „Gheorghe Ionescu- hectares. In Romania, the number of expected Sectoral RDI Plan of MARD (not of knowledge only under the protection of How can we inform the farmers Sișești” Academy of Agricultural and agricultural researchers ascribed to the launched in competition yet), do not and the intellectual property rights and of the The answer to this question is also found about the results of the researches Forestry Sciences (AAFS). Our questions agricultural area is of approximately will not meet the needs of a logically licence rights. Moreover, the brand, the in the answer to the previous questions. in order for them to be able to apply were answered by a prestigious group 1:20,000 ha, and the figure of the structured RDI system in which all the expression of “to do science”, is adequately The desertification taking place in to their work innovating techniques consisting in Prof. Dr. Mihai Nicolescu, denominator is continuously and segments to be in their natural proportion protected, often being the engine of Romania is not identical with the or practices that might increase AAFS Vice-President, Dr. Eng. Aurel inevitably growing. Also in France, a single (fundamental research, fundamentally competitiveness. desertification taking place in other areas, their income? Badiu, AAFS Scientific Secretary, Prof. Dr. great institute, INRA, receives from the applicative research, applicative research, in other geographical space, maybe except Ioan Jelev, Counselor of AAFS President, state almost one billion Euro for development and, as a corollary, Without any doubt, the knowledge from the probable consequences. Until we The answer is relatively simple: a national and Cipriana Budeanu, Specialty agricultural research, while, in Romania, innovation). Most of the financed projects the agricultural research has a certain “adapt” to the results of others regarding programme for transferring information Inspector. only 10-11 million Euro is assigned and are part of the category of applicative degree of generalization, this allowing the mitigation of the consequences of the and knowledge acquired during RDI only based on competition, as compared researches, given their competitive their adaptation in other areas than those phenomenon, we will discover that activity to all potential users irrespective How would you describe the to a requirement of minimum 85 million character, and less of the category of in which they were “produced”, but this Victoriei Avenue has turned into desert. of the size of their holdings.

4 5 Rural Romania – No. 26

In 2010, there was a legislative initiative (mentorship system) sends the students made available to all people by the “Increase of added value of the vegetal Romania. The competitive system is not disseminated in all economic regions, of AAFS and MARD to implement a further away from the information that dissemination. For example, withdrawing agricultural products by developing the capable and it does not have the role to going down to the level of Territorial national information and knowledge should be provided by knowledge creators. the public research from the field of zootechnical sector”, valuable results were solve the main and defining mission for Administrative Unit (ATU), which shall transfer programme financed from the varietal creations has caused the obtained with regard to systematic research understood as a social necessity significantly reduce the costs. It can also budget, in which to integrate with a We believe that a trilateral (education – European system to abandon the cytogenetic control in cows and buffaloes and as a progress factor of creating new be incorporated, with minimum costs, in certain periodicity all the economic MESR (Ministry of Education and cultivation of some varieties of as means of prophylaxis of hereditary knowledge. Or, in its absence, the research the activity of vocational training of the partners from the rural area. Scientific Research / agricultural research agricultural plants and even growing diseases, consolidation of Romanian remains conditional on the “import” of students from the area of the middle Unfortunately, it has been lost or it has – AAFS / Ministry of Agriculture) inter- animal species/breeds. Bălţată, Braunviech Brown type, knowledge. The adaptation of this vocational and technical education, and of perished along the way. Let us clear out institutional collaboration would be Maramureș Brown cow breed nucleus knowledge to the reality of the Romanian the adults, under the restriction of limiting one thing: community money dedicated to absolutely necessary. Probably, an Thus, we are currently dealing with huge agricultural system, understood in all its this activity to the proximity school units the transfer of information and optional course (of “General Agri-food public expenses for the preservation of With the thematic plans made in time, it attributes, costs more than obtaining it and domiciles. knowledge, innovative measures from the Knowledge” type, structured on product agricultural biodiversity and agricultural was intended to perfect the breeds of ovine “again”. new (2014-2020) NRDP, is welcomed, but sectors) could be made available to all the species that are going extinct or with the and caprine homologated for the What is your opinion about it cannot cover the reality of the students who cover the mandatory public support of creating varieties and production of milk, meat, skin, and with What happens with the Romanian genetically modified organisms? agricultural system, which currently has education cycles, even if it is only due to breeds from abandoned species which high prolificacy, and also the development varieties or with the autochthonous What cultures of this type are in over three million actors. They must be up the fact that the agricultural activity might provide answers to the current of technologies for keeping young ovine breeds? How can research be of any Romania? to date with both PAC requirements and produces the daily food, which has societal challenges (insufficient coverage and caprine at the new lines and hybrids help to us? the results and new information provided characteristics and particular aspects that of the demand of vegetal protein in the obtained by interbreeding the local breeds As authority representing the national by the research, so that to be able to make the consumer must be aware of. The European area, tolerance to draught and with the ameliorative breeds from They try to face the fierce competition on agricultural research, we have always the quality leap (in broad sense) expected national and European public policies in extreme temperatures, tolerance to European level. the market, considering that for more than plead, from the moment in which the two by the consumers. PAC and bio-economy field need wide diseases and pests, tolerance to polluting 20 years they have not been in any way parties were considered to be in social acceptability and understanding of stress factors, increasing requirement of With the researches performed in the field supported. Many of the varietal and antagonistic positions, for the solution of Let us not forget that most of the farmers all phenomena which contribute to biorenewable food and non-food raw of aquaculture and fish processing zootechnical creations from the last few coexistence. In relation to it, there is not (according to the legal and financial making the food product and to obtaining materials, biofuels etc.). industry it was intended to protect and years are the result of the investments much to say, except the fact that the use of meaning of the word) are non- its safety, a thing that is almost impossible rebuild the biodiversity of aquatic from own income obtained by the genetically modified organisms (GMO) is professionals in agriculture. They, at the without a minimum education. Even under these harsher resources and also to establish agricultural research units of AAFS a political decision. We believe that the most, have covered a few modalities of conditions for research, do we have technologies of intensively breeding network. recent “nationalisation” of the decision to vocational training for adults, which are We have both state research and any reason to be proud? Can you valuable fish species. use GMO, promoted by the European frequently focused on a single field. But, private research. How did it get here give us a few examples? With regard to the “research support”, we Commission, will imply huge commercial the performance in agriculture, and and how do you see this? Special attention was provided to can discuss on two levels. The direct costs. especially competitiveness, imply a more The agricultural research from Romania, researches in the food field, making food support, namely the transfer of research vast knowledge baggage, harmonizing it in We do not see anything abnormal in the with all the crises it has been through, has matrix models, good practice and food products directly to the willing economic The lack of a mutual position (deducted a daily technical, technological and existence of the private research. This succeeded into making available for the guides for mitigating the risk of agent, who explicitly and precisely from PAC obeisance) with regard to GMO financial decision making process, and phenomenon was possible because of Romanian farmers varieties and hybrids contamination with oncogenic substances expresses the need (great outperforming cultivation, concerning the necessity of last, but not least, acquiring skills. In this various reasons, too many to be exhausted of certain value, and also advanced in the product sector. farmers, working with Romanian varieties drawing-up new rules on coexistence, context, without an instrument, a in a simple discussion. It is certain that the technologies for plant culture and animal and technologies, are well-known), and shall have a significant cost for the coherent system repetitive in time (the private research was born as a necessity breeding and exploiting. Proper results were obtained in the area of the indirect transfer through knowledge European area, which is going to be bound aforementioned national knowledge and and a demand of the market, on the one researches performed in the field of and various modalities of disseminating it. to spend billions of Euro on annual basis information transfer programme), which hand, and as a reaction of response to very From 1990 until 2014, in the research mechanisation and forestry. in order to ensure the requirement of to transfer the knowledge and skills high costs of purchase of the research and institutions carrying out their activities Based on sub-measures 16.1 (Support for vegetal protein so to support the acquired by the agricultural research to innovation products offered on the within AAFS subordinated or coordinated How will the agricultural and the establishment and operation of production of animal protein. In our farmers, we will never be able to discuss market, on the other hand. units, over 900 varieties, hybrids, clones, forestry research be reinvigorated? operational groups for the development of opinion, on long term, the problem will be about the archetype of the Romanian biological material have been achieved, pilot projects, new products, practices and the same also for the production of animal farmer informed and capable to decide, in However, we must clear out a major these being found in production units, The Romanian agricultural research can technologies in agricultural, food and lipids and biodiesel, and last, but not least, accordance with the market challenges, aspect of the private research: it does not with especially favourable results in be reinvigorated by operationalization of forestry sectors) and 16.1.a. (Support for for saccharides, especially in the with regard to the application of the invest in fundamental research and obtaining enhanced productions with high the provisions of the Law no. 45/2009, as the establishment and operation of perspective of covering the food innovative techniques and practices that fundamentally applicative research. quality level. subsequently amended and operational groups for the development of consumption requirement for the 10 produce added value and, obviously, Therefore, it does not create new supplemented, namely, by financing from pilot projects, products and processes) of billion foreseen inhabitants of the Earth. maximize income. knowledge. Its dimension is mostly Based on genetics, cytogenetics, the state budget the operation and capital 2014-2020 NRDP, we hope that the direct applicative and innovating. The natural biotechnology and physiology researches expenditures of the agricultural research innovation transfer shall be significantly According to the valid European Which are the relations between conclusion of this situation is that of the carried out within the research objective institutions. With small adjustments consolidated, and the mandatory regulations, with all the recent research and education? Can we imperious necessity for the state to invest focused on food security and safety, regarding the authorization of such dissemination extent imposed by the “nationalization” of GMO culture decision, make this field more attractive for in the fields uncovered by the private researches made in research institutes and expenditures and with an adequate salary projects for the requesting Operational only the genetically modified corn can be our children and young people, research and to make available for it, as units, it was intended to accentuate the policy for the research and auxiliary Groups shall essentially contribute to the cultivated in Romania. The appetence of considering that the Romanian public asset, the results of these researches resistance to diseases and a better personnel, there is no reason for the transfer of demonstrative knowledge and the farmers for it is pretty low, considering education is anchored in theory? without which the competitiveness of the tolerance of the plant species to abiotic agricultural research and development to the increase of the level of skills of the that the modifying genetic event that applicative research or innovative product stress factors. Special attention was paid system from Romania not to recover the economic agents. Agricultural research, provides it with resistance refers to a pest The lack of a direct institutional relation tends to be equal to nothing. to the researches related to current handicap in relation to the together with the higher and middle less encountered in our country. causes the formal training systems to be agrophytotechnics and agricultural agricultural research from the advanced education system, can support, based on a often deprived of updated scientific We warn against turning the private technologies by establishing agricultural countries in which, with emphasis on what minimal adequate financing, the entire information, relatively distant from the research into a fetish. Private research systems focused on sustainable follows, the research is mostly financed activity of information and vocational market demand and often unattractive for creates private assets, which are used as agriculture, conservation agriculture, from the state budget by direct allocation training of the adults from the rural area, students. Additionally, the lack of a merchandise with everything it draws with precision and ecological agriculture. and not in competitive system like it has having available the entire infrastructure coherent skill acquirement system it; public research creates public assets Within the research objective focused on been the case for over 20 years in necessary to these types of activities

6 7 Rural Romania – No. 26

Agriculture are as follows: fit-out and maintenance of green from Cluj-Napoca. He invented a Rural development -perfecting the systems for the areas, management of horticultural special package for food made of sea production of sown pastures in the holdings and marketing of the weed and snail shells, which has the context of the private farm, with products specific to horticultural property of inhibiting the microbes species of high productivity; sector or support and counselling for and bacteria found on food, also -developing culture technologies in drawing up the research projects. acting as a substitute for additives. The research activity within the University of accordance with the exigencies The researcher from Cluj received last imposed by global warming; The research laboratory for vegetable year, at Vienna, “Danubius Young Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine -perfecting the technologies for the growing provides specialty Scientist Award”. cultivation of the main crops; consultancy in the following fields: from Cluj-Napoca supports the farmers -studies regarding the biology and vegetable crop in the field, UASVM from Cluj-Napoca is about to phenology of the main crops, greenhouses and solariums, establish this year the Transylvanian ecological technologies (in bio mushroom crop, production of Institute of Advanced Horticultural agriculture system) for wheat, potato vegetable seeds, production of Researches, which will carry out and medicinal plants; planting material. advanced researches in the field of -creation of varieties and production plant genetics and improvement, of seed; The researchers from the Faculty of horticultural biotechnologies, -genetic improvement of wheat, soy, Zootechnics and Biotechnologies help microbiology, flower-growing and spring two-row barley and corn hybrid beekeepers in performing physical landscaping, ornamental tree- varieties; and chemical and authenticity tests growing, vegetable-growing, fruit- -study of various technologies for for the apiarian products, and also growing and pomology, wine-growing, planting fodders on arable soil and determinations of the chemical technology of horticultural products, exploitation of the pastures from the composition of various other food land measurements and cadastre. plain area; matrixes. Biodiversity Research Centre -use of various types of mineral comprised in this project, which will fertilizers and the study of its effect on The offer of the area animal serve most of the newly established the quality of the crop and soil genotyping laboratory refers to the horticultural laboratories from the chemistry. evaluation of spermatic production of country, will be the first of its kind the breeders of interest, artificial from Romania. The Centre will house Within the last years, new and insemination in bovines, swine, the Gene Bank, where the University ecological technologies have been ovine/caprine, transfer of embryo to has been keeping for 50 years seeds created for various types of plants bovines and swine, in vitro production from over 1,000 varieties of plants together with new varieties (e.g. tall of embryos, long term storage of from all over Romania. Among these, hair grass – Jucu 5, Napoca 2 and spermatozoids, oocytes, embryos and the tomato shelf holds 20 varieties. Transylvania 6, red clover – Select 2 cellular lines or specialty consultation Any person may request such seeds in Agriculture is a strategic field for food research, is the University of national and international level are and Roxana 1, bird’s foot trefoil – in the management of reproduction order to cultivate them his own security and safety. The reform Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary considered, within the institution Dacia 1 and sainfoin – Vlamar). and reproduction biotechnologies. garden, after signing a contract based imposed by the Common Agricultural Medicine (UASVM) from Cluj- from Cluj, mandatory conditions for on which he undertakes not to use Policy bounds Romania to reconsider Napoca. obtaining an entrepreneurial The researchers of the Faculty of The research infrastructure of the them for commercial purpose. its strategy in the field in order to framework with active connection to Horticulture support the farmers by institution, by categories of research become an important actor and a The research theme is reflected in all the European Area of Research and to consultancy and experience for units, is accredited by the National Besides the researchers and strong partner for the European states study programs, which dispose of own the social and economic environment. establishing fruit-growing, wine- Council of Scientific Research in professors, the main beneficiaries of with a developed agricultural research objectives, included in the growing, vegetable-growing and Higher Education (NCSRHE), and it this project will be the farmers from infrastructure. Facing all these strategic plans of the faculties and in UASVM from Cluj-Napoca was flower-growing holdings, support and currently includes 12 research centres, Transylvania, the beneficiaries of the challenges, it is absolutely necessary that of the university, and the themes included, according to the national advice for maintenance, exploitation 22 research laboratories and one consultancy and results of the to develop the innovation and are within the scientific area of the classification from 2011, among the 12 and valorisation of horticultural crops research institute – Institute of Life advanced horticultural researches, the research sector, continuing a tradition license/PhD field. Each tenure teacher universities with “advanced research and of horticultural production, Sciences, the first of its kind from the agricultural enterprises from the which has scored remarkable success also carried out scientific research and education”, having incorporated respectively, development and country. Inaugurated in 2011, this country and especially from in time, but which, in the current activities valorised in articles in in category A the main study specific application of phytoprotection institute holds a single knowledge- Transylvania, the vegetable, fruit and context, must acquire new valence and specialty magazines or by publishing programs carried out in the programmes specific to horticultural based platform of biotechnologies derived product consumers from a practical orientation, demonstrating houses from the country or abroad, institution: Agronomy, Horticulture, plants; creation and maintenance of a from Romania, and its 45 laboratories Transylvania, thanks to the a close connection between the scientific communications presented Forestry, Forest Engineering, healthy environment and of the food are equipped with state of the art involvement of UASVM from Cluj in research work and its beneficiaries, in conferences, sessions, symposiums, Zootechnics, Biotechnologies, Food safety of consumers, development and equipment. the control of the quality of products, the farmers. seminars and consultancy based on Product Engineering and Veterinary implementation of models for the and also of the other horticultural contracts or agreements concluded Medicine. improvement, creation and One of the researchers of the Institute research institutes and units from the One of the institutions with a with Romanian or foreign partners. incorporation in the crops of new of Life Sciences already known both at country. remarkable activity, occupying a top The excellency in education and Some of the preoccupations of the cultivars for the purpose of increasing national and international level is Dan position at national level in the field of research and competitiveness at researchers of the Faculty of the horticultural production, design, Votnar, Assistant Professor at UASVM

8 9 Rural Romania – No. 26

Automatic weather stations used by Estonians in fighting the soft rot of potatoes

increasing the production cost. The cooperative of Estonian farmers, CA Talukartul, was searching for a solution which to help farmers avoid the use of several fungicides. Nevertheless, the process of determining the right moments for applying fungicides is fairly complex: there are various factors, like pathogen biology, diversity of climate conditions, soil resistance, fungicide properties etc., which can affect the rot of potatoes. The implementation of weather stations, which provide information about on site weather conditions, has allowed the farmers to correctly estimate whether it is necessary or not to react by irrigation against draught or with soot in order to protect their crops from rot. Thus, fungicide consumption could be reduced, the quality of crops increased, the loss diminished and, as a consequence, the profit of the farmers experience regarding the use of the where potatoes are planted. The data essential for this project to find a increased. The results scored during the Decisional Support Systems, a solid recorded by these stations are common language, which to allow agricultural fungicide treatment base was reached in order to find a automatically saved, being possible for researchers and practitioners to experiments from 2011 were positive, reliable and simple solution, which to all participants in the project to access understand each other”, said Mati the additional profit of the farmers involve a shorter time investment for them via internet. Koppel from Jögeva PIB. “It is about ranging from EUR 88/ha to EUR programming fungicide applications by communicating the information in the 1,373/ha. As an average, the additional the farmers. Finding a common language simplest and most transparent way, annual income of the farmers during using recommendations and proposing the project, from 2011 until 2013, was of Starting the project The project has developed a weather the adequate fungicides. At the same EUR 242.2/ha. forecast system located on site and time, the farmers were writing down Protecting potato crops from the adapted to the specific conditions from exactly what they were using at a certain Establishing partnerships localized rot and implementing a Estonia: model selection, soil time. It was a simple and very efficient monitoring system for irrigation should resistance, fungicide selection. But, modality to monitor the process. The Starting from the relations which have determine the increase of the quality of unfortunately, the researchers and farmers learnt how to use all these tools already existed between the researchers potatoes and the optimization of their farmers did not speak the same by cooperation. During the project, they from Jõgeva Plant Breeding Institute value. The project analyses the potential language, in the sense that the models have convinced themselves that they Considering the harvest of 50 million one of the basic crops. In order to keep (PBI) and CA Talukartul cooperative of of a defence system for the prevention built for programming the fungicide have learnt how to independently use tons per year, potatoes are an important the disease under control, it was the farmers, the development of the of potato rot by valorising automatic application proved to be too the system.” crop in EU. Still, it can be very easily necessary to increase the number of project was not that problematic. weather forecast centres located in the complicated, hard to understood and, attacked by diseases like the soft rot of treatments with fungicide applied Therefore, they initiated a three year fields, and also by monitoring the need therefore, to apply in due time by the You can find out more information on potatoes, an infection which causes a during the season. But a more intense cooperation project conducted by Mati for irrigation. One of the activities of the farmers. In exchange, the found an easy the project at www.etki.ee quantitative and qualitative loss of more treatment with fungicides also implies Koppel from Jõgeva Plant Breeding project consisted in building 13 and rapid solution to forward the than 50%. This problem also affects the putting the environment and the Institute (PBI). By combining the needs automatic observatories for weather message via an internet collaboration farmers from Estonia, where potato is human health to a greater risk and also of the farmers with Jõgeva PBI forecast in all the fields from Estonia tool, namely, Google Docs. “It has been

10 11 Rural Romania – No. 26

Dissemination of research and innovation results among Spanish farmers

Galicia region from the North-Western the farm of his parents, and the trends corresponded. It fitted like a glove. Due corner of Spain has been the final of that time were not at all to his liking. to the collaboration with CIAM, Xosé destination of the Way of St. James (El Being worried about the disappearance Luís had access to the information Camino de Santiago) pilgrimage since of traditional products and intending to sources and knowledge he needed in the Middle Ages. This pilgrimage has avoid the involvement into a production order to develop his farm. brought many Europeans in the city of system which was not compliant with Santiago de Compostela, where it is his own principles, Xosé Luís has The Innovation Support Services believed that it is the grave of Apostle decided to redirect his farm towards the determine the success James. Due to the pilgrims of various ecologic production of traditional chees nations travelling to and from this city, from A Ulloa. This change would have That first project determined the the Way of St. James has been allowed him to obtain a bigger profit as participation of Xosé Luís in other facilitating from time out of mind the compared to what he would have projects developed by CIAM, for communication between various obtained from trading raw industrial example one which was proposing the European areas, and, therefore, it has milk, without being constrained to increase of protein production and been playing an important role in the expand the farm or to be dependent on fixation of nitrogen by crops of peas and dissemination of ideas and inventions. imported fodder plants and, therefore, other plants in order to eliminate weeds Arqueixal organic milk farm is located hard to be controlled. Additionally, in from wheat crops. As a true supplier of very close to the Way of St. James, and this way, he would have contributed to innovation support services, CIAM it is not impossible that the history of the conservation of traditional advised Xosé Luís to contact a private the region itself to have determined the landscapes and natural patrimony, research centre dedicated to dairy order to sell their products. At farm owner, Xosé Luís, to support the another aspect which was very products, which helped him diversify approximately 30 years from the first innovation in the agricultural sector of important for him. the production by adding two innovating steps made by Xosé Luís by A Ulloa, in the heart of the region of autochthonous types of cheese, the initiating the collaboration with CIAM Galicia. Research has proven its utility ecological yogurt and the bottled milk. in order to develop his holding, other The innovating efforts made for farmers from A Ulloa followed his Defying the conventions by Xosé Luís has soon discovered that recovering and reviving the specific example. His involvement in “EFFECT” ecologic production there was not much known about the cheese production of A Ulloa region European project also inspired other ecologic production of dairy products. resulted in the acknowledgement at European farmers. Maybe the Way of Sixty years ago, the agriculture from In the md 80’s, there was a single European level, awarding the St. James is no longer the main catalyst Galicia was focused on the production ecologic farm in Spain, and most of the “Protected Designation of Origin” in of the dissemination of innovation from closed at subsistence level. The agricultural advisers were specializing 2010 for Arzúa-Ulloa cheese. this region in all corners of Europe, but, development plans, which were in industrial production techniques, not without any doubt, the activities carried implemented in Spain in the 60’s, have having any knowledge regarding the An inspirational model for others out here continue to influence and promoted the transition to an ecological production. A few years inspire. industrialized agriculture subsequently afterwards, at the end of the 90’s, a Other holdings from A Ulloa region rushed by the accession of Spain to the regional agricultural research centre, have embarked on initiatives for the You can find out more information at: European Union in 1986. Based on the the Agricultural Research Centre of development of some new products http://www.arqueixal.com/ competition with more productive Mabegondo (CIAM) was involved in inspired by the traditional ones from http://www.granxamaruxa.com/ farms from other European countries, EFFECT, an international research Arqueixal. One of these farms, “Granxa http://www.milhulloa.es/ the farmers from Galicia were project having as theme the reduction Maruxa”, has produced sandwich www.ciam.es EFFECT project: constrained to focus on dairy of fertilization with nitrogen by cookies called “Maruxas”. Another one, http://ec.europa.eu/research/agro/ production, to extend their farms and to cultivating some trefoil varieties. CIAM “Milulloa” farm started to sell dry fair/en/uk3819.html become much more dependent on has already collaborating in this project turnip-rooted cabbage leaves, a season important fodder plants. These changes with bovine holdings and dairy product vegetable very popular in Galicia. Translated and adapted material. The have caused the disappearance of enterprises from the region, but it was Thanks to Milulloa initiative, this articles were published in 2014 in traditional agriculture and of traditional also looking for an organic dairy vegetable can be now marketed during Agrinnovation Magazine „Where products from A Ulloa. Around the date production farm which to be interested the entire year, and many ecological Research and Practice Meet”, which on which Spain was becoming EU in testing the obtained results, and farms from A Ulloa organized in a can be accessed on EIP-AGRI website – member, Xosé Luís was just inheriting Arqueixal was the only farms that network, together with Arqueixal, in www.eip-agri.eu

12 13 Rural Romania – No. 26

Transfer of research results to the economic field: AgroTransilvania Cluster, a good practice model

Romanian students from MSc approval of the information requested identified both as structure and as Agribusiness (from UASVM from Cluj- under the project, subsequently physical units, and there is a general Napoca) in order to perform an onsite providing to the project team an official consensus at the level of communities qualitative research, which to provide position which to be included in the with regard to the desire to include relevant information on agribusiness study. them in the economic circuit. But, the sector from Cluj County. The research study also revealed distinct cases in has also benefitted of the support of Cluj The most relevant information collected which the local authorities expressed County Council and of the at the level of each locality refer to the their interest in the field which was the administrative structures from the agricultural, food industry and tourism scope of the study. Also, a lack of vision AgroTransilvania Cluster was chain; order to clearly determine the results, territory, and it has consisted in fields, being mainly focused on the at local level or with regard to the established as a professional association -the increase of qualitative and needs, expectations and sustainable to support the development of quantitative representativeness; development potential of concomitant covering of several stages agricultural, agri-food and touristic integration at regional level was also agribusiness sector in order to support -the support of the development of local AgroTransilvania Cluster, its members considered to be extremely important. resources of localities that are currently rendered evident as a result of the lack the increase of the competitiveness of and regional initiatives; involved in a research product called “A In the first part, interviews were taken used; the vision of the local authorities of concrete information supplemented, the association and also of each of its -the encouragement of research, chance for each farmer”, by which, in in each locality, having as target group with regard to the optimal modality to in certain cases, by social factors, like members, both on the national and innovation and technological transfer in each locality of Cluj County, an the executive authorities of the local develop the locality; development insufficient experience of the main international market, based on a agribusiness sector. international study was carried out public administration and also the priorities which the local authorities public and/or private actors or material common development strategy. together with the University of representatives of the business sector would consider in case they have the factors, especially the lack of an Currently, AgroTransilvania Cluster For each of these strategic objectives, Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary from agribusiness field, this stage necessary resources, and last but not adequate infrastructure. undertakes the mission of becoming an interrelated operational objectives were Medicine from Cluj-Napoca for the taking place during September and least, the projects which the local integrating pole of sustainable proposed. Each of these objectives purpose of finding out the problems, October, 2013. administrations intend to implement, As a consequence of the previously development of agribusiness sector integrates, whether directly or but also the potential of production and indicating the potential financing mentioned elements, AgroTransilvania from Transylvania by supporting its indirectly, actions specific to the marketing of agribusiness products. As The initial stage was complemented by sources, the estimated value of the Cluster team has identified a series of sustainable competitiveness. transfer of research results to the a result of the study, the cluster also a study in communities by which project, the implementation period etc. opportunities starting from the desire to economic environment, the last of the intends to develop and implement a information was collected from the become a model of good practices, The entity managing the cluster, objectives being concretely established strategy which to be necessary for each citizens based on self-administrated As a result of the study, the interest of which, based on concrete actions, to together with its members, have and constantly monitored, for the farmer of Cluj County. questionnaires, which were filled-in by most of the decisional factors from the ensure the transfer of information and established six strategic objectives involvement of AgroTransilvania any interested person. The research was analysed area was observed, being results of the researches to the whose achievement should determine: Cluster in research and/or development The study has benefited of the completed by consulting the local doubled by the major interest of the economic, administrative and social -the increase of competitiveness of projects, creation of sectoral expert international experience of ERASMUS decisional factors, and in order to economic sector for the involvement in sector. Considering the relations agribusiness sector from Transylvania; teams, performance of practical MUNDUS MSc Food Identity Project successfully perform the third stage, the common projects which to determine developed by the cluster between its -the encouragement of creation and/or trainings and internships, but also and ERASMUS Scholar Mobility Project local councils from the county were the valorisation of the significant agri- members and with third entities, it was development of associative structures; dissemination of results by organizing based on which nine students from asked to include in the agenda the food potential from the area. The revealed that there are positive average -the integration of producers and and participating in scientific Argentina, France, Spain, Mexico, following meetings of the local interest is also supplemented by the fact and long term perspective for the associative structures in the value manifestations, fairs and exhibitions. In Croatia, Republic of Moldova joined the deliberating forums, the debate and that significant unused resources were development of the agri-food sector.

14 15 Rural Romania – No. 26

its members.

In the same direction of developing an integrated strategy, AgroTransilvania Cluster has obtained financing within the Sectoral Operational Programme “Increase of Economic Competitiveness” – within SOP IEC-A1- DM 1.3.-O 1.3.3-2013 project call for the project “Sustainable development of agribusiness cluster under «AgroTransilvania Cluster» brand” in amount of EUR 200,000 (RON 879,320). This project was performed as a result of the fact that the initiatives of establishing AgroTransilvania Cluster have relatively recently taken a concrete form, more specifically, in the first half of 2013, the members of the cluster becoming aware of the necessity of taking measures for the consolidation of the relations inside and outside the cluster, and also for the increase of its visibility. In this respect, the project has become a lever for the development of administrative performance of the with regard to possible modalities of contributed to this collaboration project the cluster also with regard to the cluster. procuring the requested products by providing advices regarding the consolidation of the image on the and/or services, for searching the monitoring and evaluation of the national and international market. Through the two universities members adequate financing sources and the imported biological material by It was observed that the existent value practically being subject to a fierce and Besides the necessity of creating a of AgroTransilvania Cluster, the national and international partners permanent evaluation of the chains do not succeed into adequately unfair competition from the great input common image, the cluster members University of Agricultural Sciences and which to correspond to the required exploitation technology and health integrating the local actors and they are suppliers, producers, processors or have identified needs with regard to the Veterinary Medicine from Cluj-Napoca profile, and for ensuring the transfer of condition of the animals and by not sufficiently stable despite the distribution channels. performance of the management and (UASVM Cluj) and the Technical technology from research to the monitoring the modality of adapting the advantage provided by the proximity of the personnel of the cluster University from Cluj-Napoca (TUCN), economic sector. imported rams to the geographical the cities. Also, the relatively facile As a result of analysing the results of the management entity, the efficient also joined by two research institutes, breeding area and by evaluating the access to the local workforce and research, the urgent needs were management of activities and the the National Institute of Research and A concrete example is represented by main characteristics of the carcases to resources cannot be neglected, this determined, and, in order to meet these training of human resources, these Development for Isotopic and the collaboration and partnership the biological material resulted from aspect providing consistent premises needs, AgroTransilvania Cluster intends being fundamental actions for good Molecular Technologies (NIRDIMT) protocol between AgroTransilvania cross-breeding between the imported for increasing the efficiency of the to get involved. Among the most operation in the future. from Cluj-Napoca and the Institute of Cluster, IJARUL Association of Ovine and local breeds (weight, adherent suet activity of the members by innovation important needs there are the storage Research for Analytical and Caprine Breeders and the index, weight and metric correlations, and development. and marketing of agricultural and food Raising awareness of these needs of Instrumentation (IRAI), an important University of Agricultural Sciences and carcass structure by cut portions and by products, the support and promotion of consolidation on the three segments potential of research services can be Veterinary Medicine from Cluj-Napoca categories of quality, share of the The research revealed aspects which various associative forms of vegetable, (management, training and promotion) ensured in order to provide innovative (both of them being members of the regions with high commercial value, threaten the success of the initiatives in fruit, local product, niche product (like was achieved at the level of the products and services in the direction of cluster) based on which the need to meat-bones ratio, meat-fat ratio and the the food sector in the analysed area, the ecological, medicinal, aromatic management entity with the transferring them to the economic develop new products was identified, muscle surface). most important one being the products etc.) producers, the needs of participation of a significant number of sector consistently represented inside allowing the diversification of unfortunate experience of the previous animal breeders, the integration in members, who have declared their the cluster. In order to identify the opportunities on the sheep-meat retail As a consequence, AgroTransilvania failed projects, which have generated a value chains and marketing chains, the intention to actively get involved ever common innovation and development market, and also the improvement of Cluster is a model of good practices for conservative attitude doubled by the support for the development of projects since the establishment of the cluster. needs of the cluster members, six the quality of produced carcases, using other similar associations, always being distrust in own forces and in the in order to modernize the production The general objective of the project is distinct workgroups were created: input the cross-breeding of autochthonous in search of viable solutions for the efficiency of the support provided by the technologies, the irrigation systems, the the consolidation and creation of the suppliers, agricultural producers (from breeds with Dutch meat breeds, valorisation of the research, innovation authorities at local, regional, national integration of tourism activities, and premises for the sustainable vegetal and animal sector), processors, resulting the Transylvanian Meat Lamb. and technological transfer and European level. Moreover, the last but not least, the increase of the development of the cluster until the end related service suppliers, public service In the context of the crucial importance opportunities identified in agri-food increasing pressure of national and quality of life. of 2015 based on an efficient suppliers and research, innovation and of increasing the economic profitability sector. European governmental agencies management and marketing, by development service suppliers. Each of of autochthonous breeders from Cluj exercise on the social and economic The information collected during the undertaking the Development Plan of the first five aforementioned groups County by improving the ovine meat Univ. Prof. Dr. Felix Arion sector was also mentioned. Another project was used to conceive and the cluster until 2018 by developing distinctly identify the needs they race, AgroTransilvania Cluster has General Manager limitative factor is represented by the implement a unitary strategy in agri- “AgroTransilvani Cluster” brand and individually have and also the common actively involved by financially AgroTransilvania Cluster insufficient familiarization with the food sector, a strategy meant to the cluster image as a result of needs, which, are afterwards supporting IJARUL Association for the www. agrocluster.ro elements which have the potential to determine the real needs of this sector marketing campaigns, by promoting the transferred to the workgroup of purpose of acquiring rams from the [email protected] influence the agri-food sector, this and to rank the priorities of investment services and products on new markets, research, innovation and development Dutch partners. The University of Mobile: +40 (751) 011 228 providing to the actors from the studied and involvement in fund attraction vocational training of the personnel and service suppliers. This workgroup is Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Office: +40 (364) 730 049 area a reduced negotiation power, them projects at the level of the cluster or of consolidation of the management and liable for providing concrete solutions Medicine from Cluj-Napoca has Personal: +40 (744) 170 222

16 17 Rural Romania – No. 26

effects on the life of people through significant influences on the water supplies, crops, animal and poultry breeding and on economy.

The agriculture – food production – Effect of climate change on agriculture is the first sector of activity deeply affected by climate changes: desertification, draught, heat, extreme weather, storms, hail, tornadoes, floods, frost etc.

The scientific researches show that the desertification phenomenon has also began in our country and determines the productive agricultural areas to transform into arid areas with very low agricultural productions.

Considering these phenomena, it is necessary for the agriculture to modify with regard to crop technologies, species and varieties of cultivated plants, and zootechnics should modify with regard to animal and poultry species and breeds.

First of all, the desertification phenomenon necessarily implies in the field of technology the supply of water for crops in order to produce regard to fertilization, treatments -diminishing gas and powder harvests in the quantity and with the against diseases and pests, chemical emission in the air; quality corresponding to the weeding, etc. -reducing the use of polluting vehicles production potential of the cultivated and manufacturing of non-polluting species and varieties. Animal and poultry breeders are also vehicles; constrained to orient themselves -afforestation and forest protection; The development of the agriculture conditions, and it tries to identify zootechnics and medicine. The effects In the areas with desertification towards new species and breeds. Also -planting vegetation in parks, on the brink of the 21st century those elements which might represent of these changes are sometimes less process, water is supplied to the crops the other inhabitants from rural area, gardens, green areas, etc. becomes a true challenge considering technological, economic and perceptible, but other times, they turn by installing complex irrigation like the small farmers, shall have to the approximately seven billion organisational solutions for counter- into extremely visible phenomena, systems. Also, it is necessary to adapt to climate changes with regard •Measures to reduce soil and water persons on the planet, because of the balancing the effects of climate which affect the systematic vegetal or cultivate species, varieties and plant to crop technologies, species, pollution: necessity to increase the agricultural changes. animal production and also other hybrids resistant to draught. For varieties, plant hybrids, poultry and -judicious use of fertilizers and production both under demographic aspects regarding the development of example, instead of corn, it would be animal species and breeds. pesticides; pressure and under the pressure of As of the middle of the last century, agriculture, zootechnics and necessary to cultivate sorghum – a -reducing industrial pollution, climate changes, which are more and the phenomenon of climate change industrial production. The impact of plant resistant to draught. At the same time, it is absolutely controlling the use of chemical more felt. Therefore, the specialists in has been identified, currently foreseen climate changes primarily necessary for all countries of the substances in industrial processes; agriculture, biology, biotechnologies, worsening and causing numerous consists in the increase of the average In case of extreme weather, like, for world to take a series of measures to -waste storage control and landfill meteorology etc., must collaborate in modifications, both of atmospheric temperature with 1 up to 5 degrees example, storms, they are very reduce air, water and soil pollution in modernization; order to improve both agricultural and geodesic macro-system and at Celsius, which determines the necessary for wind break crops, and order to limit the production of - waste water purging, etc. production and animal production in local level, where such phenomena decrease of the quantity of water for protection against hail – greenhouse gas which determines order to deal with climate changes. become perceptible. The tendency of necessary for crops and the reduction installation of anti-hail protection global warming. These are a few examples of solutions the planet to become warmer, of biodiversity in various ecosystems. systems – anti-hail cannons, which might contribute to tackling the For this purpose, this article looks becoming more acute within the last protection nets etc. The most important of these effects of climate changes. over the issues regarding the half of century, worries the specialists Global warming and climate changes measures are: protection of field crops and protected from several fields, from geology and caused by the greenhouse gases are The farmers are bound to modify Engineer Marian Lixandru crops in the current climate meteorology to agronomy, phenomena with strong negative their crop technologies also with •Measures to reduce air pollution: Biologist Sergiu Fendrihan

18 19 Rural Romania – No. 26

newly obtained variety reach maturity in the first decade of August, and in draught years even towards the end of July. Dry yellow-greenish varieties of wines with a discreet flavour given by Csaba Pearl broodstock, with a A success of Romanian wine-growing research: harmonious taste, having an alcohol concentration of 12.6% vol, can be Bujoru variety, the successful result of 18 years of obtained.

work of the researchers from Galaţi Research – a profession of belief

Although affected by sub-financing of Plan), obtaining important scientific the sector in which they operate, the results applicable in the development Romanian researchers make from their sector. trade a true profession of belief, with passion and dedication. The unit has also accessed European funds based on two projects performed “A researcher, irrespective of the field in during 2010-2014 programming period. which he/she works, is always One of these projects was focused on the connected to his/her work. There are improvement of the administrative and many sacrifices as researcher in institutionalized management Romania, but the satisfactions are performances, and the second one great, if you put soul in what you are resulted in the modernization of doing. The profession of researcher is technological testing, physical and beautiful and creative, if that is what chemical and biochemical testing and makes you happy. As a researcher, you microbiology and fermentative must learn to have patience and to biotechnology testing laboratories. understand that something big cannot be obtained overnight. It is easy to Bujoru – a new vine variety on the complain about shortcomings, but I market as of 2017 think that the most important thing is to look for satisfaction in simple things A new vine variety, which is vigorous and and to set our bold future objectives no competitive with regard to productivity, matter if we are supported or not. To be born from the efforts made for 18 years researcher in the field that I work – vine by the researchers from Bujoru Unit, is genetics and improvement – is an ready to be launched on the market as of everyday challenge ”, said Alina Donici. 2017. In her capacity of researcher, Alina Alina Donici, scientific researcher in the Donici has as objective the preservation field of Vine Genetics and Improvement of autochthonous genetic wine-growing at Bujoru Unit from 2004, currently, the resources and orientation of manager of the research unit, told us improvement researches towards the that in all these years, meticulous studies current and future requirements of the Emblematic for Romania, the cultivation Development Unit (WGWMRDU) from have been performed on the national economy. In the capacity of under 2000-2003 Relansin Programme; diversity of microorganisms from of vines is integral part of the history and Bujoru, Galaţi County. The research improvement material regarding the manager, the intended scope is the -Modernized technology for making famous wine-growing areas in the civilization of our country. The climatic activity of Bujoru Unit established in physiological and morphological aspects. accreditation of the recently modernized quality red wines, under 2000-2003 context of the European natural bio- factors and soil typology favour wine- 1977 carries out in complex fields, which Bujoru variety – a first for the team laboratories and the enhancement of the Relansin Programme; resource management programmes, growing in all historical provinces. With include vine genetics and improvement, conducted by this young researcher – visibility of the scientific results of -Modernization of research carried out under 2008-2010 N.R.D.I.P. regard to vine cultivated area, Romania wine improvements, vine protection and was obtained by sexual hybridization of Bujoru Unit at national and infrastructure in the field of producing II; ranks fifth in the hierarchy of the most agro-technics, wine-making and wine grey Băbească and Csaba Pearl varieties international level. wine-making planting stock in the -Assessment of wine-growing ecosystem important wine-growing countries from microbiology, and also the production of and it was homologated in March, 2014. context of aligning to the European vulnerability upon the damaging impact Europe and sixth with regard to the planting stock from superior biological Showing a good tolerance to biotic and Projects carried out by the Wine- quality standards, under N.R.D.I.P. of concurrent and antagonist organisms, production of grapes and wine. The fame categories. Operating in a county that abiotic factors, the obtained grapes are Growing and Wine-Making Research (National Research, Development and under 2011-2014 Ader 5.2.1 Sectoral of important producer and exporter in currently ranks second at country level meant for consumption and also for and Development Unit (WGWMRDU) Innovation Programme) II. Capacities Plan; the field is mostly due to the with regard to the agricultural area, the producing white wines of high quality. from Bujoru from 2007 until 2009; -Identification and assessment of contribution of research. research team of WGWMRDU Bujoru One of the strengths is the low -Researches regarding the impact of autochthonous wine-growing has participated in all the national percentage of grape degeneration. The Some of the most important projects global climate changes on wine-growing germoplasm sources in order to promote An eloquent example is the team of research programmes (Relansin, Ceex, variety has an average productivity carried out at Bujoru are: ecosystem from the hillside area, under them considering the climate changes researchers from the Wine-Growing and National Research-Development- index, a middle-high growing vigour and -Ecological grape production technology N.R.D.I.P.II from 2007 until 2010; from the area, under 2011-2014 Ader Wine-Making Research and Innovation Programme and Sectoral 54-60% fertility. The grapes from the for obtaining red wines, carried out -Ecological and molecular study on the 1.1.7 Sectoral Plan.

20 21 Rural Romania – No. 26

(“Lunca” AERCC) was established in openness, and I would like to thank specific needs of the region: January, 2014, being a research everybody for becoming involved, evaluation and monitoring of crops; centre in the structure of the Faculty especially to «Agricost» Company biological and ecological stage of of Engineering from Brăila, belonging for the promptness with which it agricultural vegetal species; to “Dunărea de Jos” University from responded to our requests ”, said the development of new cultivation Partnership between universities and the Galaţi, by modifying the name and dean of the Faculty of Engineering methods and technologies; creation of statute of the Regional from Brăila. efficient varieties and hybrids economic field for research: a win-win situation Interdisciplinary Research Centre in adapted to the conditions of the North the Field of Vibroacoustic Pollution The actions carried out for the Bărăgan; restoration, preservation and Environmental Quality. development of agricultural research and consolidation of ecosystems from partnerships between research According to the dean of the Faculty had as effect also the decision for the Great Brăila Island. organisations and companies and of Engineering from Brăila, Cristian faculty to adopt another direction, collaboration within research Simionescu, “ the former centre does that of agronomy, this becoming the From the establishment, the infrastructures and programmes”. not justify its existence with themes, Faculty of Engineering and Agronomy specialists of the centre – professors The strategy supports measures to contracts or collaborations in its from Brăila. of the faculty – together with the attract young people towards science, field, being necessary to restructure students have developed 14 research in the formal education environment it and attract financing based on Objectives of „Lunca” AERCC themes which represent points of and outside of it. feasible projects .” interest for the partner S.C. Agricost The scope of „Lunca” AERCC is to S.R.L. These themes are in various In this context, the example of “Lunca” AERCC was established in a develop research programmes in phases of implementation, “Dunărea de Jos” University from partnership with S.C. Agricost S.R.L. agricultural and environment considering the specificity of the Galaţi, whose researchers are It supports the new research centre by protection field, providing advice to agricultural research activity, which involved in numerous national and allowing the access of the students the interested persons and includes several years. international projects financed from and specialists of the faculty to the institutions, contributing to public funds or by economic agents, is production and research base it owns promotion of sustainable rural By continuing the common research remarked. at Lunca farm. development in the area of North programmes with the partner S.C. Bărăgan, providing conditions for the Agricost S.R.L., it is foreseen to In the Research Strategy of “Dunărea Agricost Company has leased over students and people from Brăila from develop new species, hybrids and de Jos” University from Galaţi, for the 56,000 hectares of agricultural land agricultural education to practice in technologies which to solve the 2012-2016 period, the from Great Brăila Island. the field of research, creating material production issues for the farmers encouragement of the technological and financial conditions adequate for from all over the country. The centre transfer is provided by initiation and During 14 years of experience in the implementation of the individual also carried out consultancy activities development of partnerships: agriculture, the company has always research programmes. Currently, for public institutions, economic “attracting, entering into partnerships searched for new cultivation people work on equipping with agents, non-governmental with various institutions, economic technologies and modern techniques. didactical research systems, in order institutions in the field of sustainable agents and NGOs in order to establish The company now has a specialized for the students to be able to development and natural capital good practices and to correlate the laboratory, which analyses the soil participate in laboratory classes at management, support of professors, research activity with practice in prior to the application of any “Lunca” farm. students, master students and PhD various fields of activity.” fertilizer. Lucian Buzdugan, the students in developing agricultural general manager of S.C. Agricost „(…) I have spoken about the research programmes and identifying Starting from a low interest of the S.R.L. from Great Brăila Island possibility created under 2014-2020 solutions for the development of young people in scientific research, supports the reestablishment of National Rural Development collaborations at local, national and Within the last 25 years, the system has resisted with minimum the university intends to reorganize vocational and technical schools, and Programme for the agricultural international level between the agricultural research system from resources from own incomes and its research centres in order for them he has been placing the emphasis in faculties and high-schools, which academic sector and social-economic Romania has reduced to half the public funds, according to an to become more efficient, attracting his public appearances on the have didactical units or own farms sector. network of research, development information strategy of MARD. increasingly more public and private importance of supporting the that they use as training base for the and innovation units (RDU) of public funds for numerous and varied agricultural research, including in the students, to obtain financing. Thus, if With this partnership in the top interest, from 121 to 60, and the 2014-2020 strategy of research and research programmes and themes. higher education institutions. you start this collaboration even in agricultural research, “Lunca” number of researchers from the innovation in agriculture is focused On long term, this strategy intends to partnership or if you develop a farm AERCC, S.C. Agricost S.R.L., the relevant public institutions has on the improvement of the raise the social status of professors In June 2014, the collaboration at agricultural high-schools, a Faculty of Engineering and Agronomy decreased from approximately 3,000 institutional and policy framework by and students up to the rank of between the Faculty of Engineering, didactical unit, all these things will be from Brăila and „Dunărea de Jos” persons to 700 persons, while their modernizing the research and community elite. Agricultural High-School from Brăila financed as equipment, material base University from Galaţi will contribute age average has increased. The education system and also the and S.C. Agricost S.R.L. began, and procurements under the new NRDP ”, to the increase of the research private agricultural research has a consultancy services. Successful partnership with the the students and pupils from Brăila said the Minister Daniel Constantin prestige, stimulating the interest of reduced share in the national private sector specialized in agriculture practice in upon announcing the partnership young students for this field of agricultural research system, being According to this document, “the the field of research in the premises from the Great Brăila Island. activity. represented especially by global excellency benchmarks impose “Lunca” Agronomic and Environment made available by Agrocost Company. multinational companies. The public the establishment of long term Research and Consultancy Centre “We were welcomed with complete The research activities address

22 23 Rural Romania – No. 26

by a group consisting in small singing people say that on Palm Sunday you are valences. And the time from this period girls who bring in the courtyards of the forbidden to plant or seed anything, is “sacred”; it is said that it is the only people a sort of allegorical show of death because it will give only flowers and no time in the year when “the semantron is regarded as a wedding. The same as on fruit. You are not allowed to eat stinging heard from the sky”. The sound of the New Year’s Eve, when they sing nettles, because they bloom and make a semnatron is that of renewal, revival songs to people touching them lightly wedding on this day… And if it happens and immortality. The semantron chases with a branch adorned with artificial to pick flowers on this day, which is so away the devil and the temptations, it flowers (Sorcova), the girls touch the special, you must say to them that you purifies the place in which the spirit of The Calendar of our villages hosts with green willow branches. The are sorry, because they also have soul… God is resting. The otherworld is closer Iulia Gorneanu custom is attested nowadays in the to us, and heaven is open: “who dies on South side of the country and also in the Under the sign of mythical and the day of Easter goes straight to communities of Aromanian Fãrshãrotsi folkloric Christianity: Holy Week Heaven”. from Romania, Albania, Bulgaria and and Easter Greece. It is believed that, by a ritual „All people are sinners/But holy is only transfer of properties, those touched by The peasants call it the Holy Week and the wedding, the beginning” willow branches will be prosperous, comply with all customs imposed by the young and vigorous the entire year. most intense festive period from the The legend of the world’s birth from the year. In the “Calendars of Romanian mythical egg is encountered at Palm Sunday and willow People”, Antoaneta Olteanu claimed the Egyptians, Celts, Greeks, Phoenicians, idea of a “true Black Week, demonized Tibetan Hindi, Vietnamese, Chinese, On Palm Sunday, the Orthodox Church by excellency in its entirety”, providing Japanese people and also in Serbia and celebrates the Entrance of Jesus in numerous and convincing mythical and Indonesia. Easter egg is a substitute of Jerusalem, where he was welcomed folkloric arguments. At the other end, primordial divinity, adorned in the Holy with date palm flowers and branches Marcel Lapteș, Ethnologist, talks about Week and sacrificed on the day of after the miracle of Lazar’s resurrection. a miraculous and good week in which Easter. Present in the culture of To commemorate this event, the the sky opens and God descends among Romans, Slavs, Chinese people and Old Romanian people take willow branches us on a wax ladder. Persians, the archetype image of to church in order to be bless them, in painted egg was taken by Christianity as this way transferring to them apotropaic The Folkloric calendar is again under symbol of Jesus, who dies and properties of propitiation and the sign of mythical-folkloric resurrects. Thus, Easter is part of the purification valid during the entire year. Christianity, dominated by the prehistoric pattern of symbolic time Phytomorphic substitute of goddess indubitable syncretism of Christian and death and rebirth through the sacrifice Flora and at the same time of the green pagan elements. There are seven cosmic of the substitute of the adored divinity. branches with which Jesus was days in which time progressively For the Romanian peasant, the Easter welcomed in Jerusalem, the willow degrades, the death souls return home, egg is the grave with life in it, and becomes one of the main vegetal Heaven closes, and Jesus is betrayed, breaking the shell means setting free a elements vested with sacredness. After tortured and murdered. After three days new being. Ritual breaking of the blessing the willow branches, people of chaos and darkness, in which painted eggs means the triumph by place them into their homes near the humanity is left without divine resurrection, the victory of life over picture of Virgin Mary and in the protection, the miracle of the death, of the truth over the lie, of the “threshold places” from the house in Resurrection of Jesus take place, good over evil. The stories of Prier (April) French, because April has always and most expected days of the calendar order to use them in case of storm, to followed by the acts of purification from included days of fasting and praying. is the Palm Sunday, the day of all cure certain disease, to make the crops the Bright Week. During all this period, Radonitsa „What is Heaven on this earth?/ Heaven flowers. Palm Sunday commemorates and beehives prosperous, to enchant animals are sacrificed, ritual dishes are is spring,/ When all the fields turn green Lărăzică and Flora: the old Roman festivities dedicated to and charm away. Willow is good as cure, prepared, lights are lit, it is believed that Radonitsa opens the Black Week or the / And all the trees blossom...” autochthonous god and Sabine Goddess Flora, the one who was it is good for love, fright, lightning, the animals speak and the treasures Week of “Black Entities”, which is goddess bringing spring and was offering seeds, earthquake. Willow buds are placed in burn. governed by death, during which it is April brings the sky closer to us, it nectar and honey to people. Flora, the basin, under the pillow, in the food, not indicated to organise funeral deludes you on its first day, it makes you The folkloric history keeps as a relict the Sabine goddess of blooming, was in the ground, in fire. They are also The Ester Holiday does not have a fixed repasts, because the round bread is dream on its following days. The image of heaven as projection of a venerated as Flora Mater, mother of place on graves for the peace of the date in the Christian Orthodox calendar, going to blacken. It is not indicated to peasants call it Prier, which means blooming and scented garden, whose spring, of the birth of the new vegetal dead. Coronets and necklaces are made but it is mandatory for it to be on a work, because you will no longer see, “initiator”, initiator of good weather, of commemoration updates every year in cycle. of willow branches (again, we deal with Sunday, after the spring equinox and hens will not be put on eggs to clutch mid spring, of New Pastoral Year, of spring. Therefore, it is normal for the pre-Christian ritual gestures), the circle after full moon. For Romanians, the because the eggs will turn black…It is flower buds, of holy and bright holidays. Week of Palm Sunday to be expected as On the brink of Palm Sunday, the being a well-known solar symbol. solstices and equinoxes have generated the following week after the Bright In some areas it is called “Florariu”, a true miracle, the mythological canons folkloric calendar celebrates Lazarus true mythical structures, at the same Week or the White Week, which because the trees are blossoming in of the great civilizations being based just Saturday, a religious holiday grafted on We should not forget that Palm Sunday time constituting the nucleus of the provided ancient funeral ceremonies April, in other areas it is called “Traistă- on the possibility to repeat the the chants of an ancient nature rebirth also brings numerous interdictions: it is holidays from the folkloric calendar still practiced in our villages: “Lioara” in n Băţ” (Bag on a Stick), because also primordial time on holidays. The plants ceremony. Lăzărel/Lazăr/Lăzărică, not indicated to wash your hair in order around which the immortal customs Bihor County, „Masa Moșilor” (Supper now it can happen for the frost to have always had a fundamental role in autochthonous god of vegetation, dies in for it not to turn grey earlier, it is not and stories are updated every year. The of Old People) in the cemeteries from destroy the buds. It is probably not marking the cosmic rhythm of time, order to reborn the same as divinities on indicated to clean the house, it is not home, the farm, the garden – cleaned Maramureș County, „blessing the water accidental that the folkloric name of being considered the vegetal horologes the brink of equinoxes and solstices. He indicated to work in order not to have and adorned during the period before for the dead” in Mehedinţi County. The April – “Prier” – means in “pray” in of the year. One of the most beautiful is evoked in a ritual dance by children or bad luck during the entire year…The old Easter – are filled with new spiritual Bright Week concluded in the Folkloric

24 25 Rural Romania – No. 26

Calendar with “Small Easter” or “Easter marry and, in order to multiply their each other. Peasants say that Sângiorz of the Dead”, true echo days of the great species, they stay together with their is “the saint who masters the fields” and holiday in the otherworld, in which wives between 6 and 30 days, that he is entitled to have his tree (osier) repasts are given for the forgotten dead. afterwards only fasting and praying. and his flower (dahlia). Radonitsa is always celebrated on Radonitsa has been recorded in almost We should not forget that this god of Monday from the second week after all the countries from South-Eastern vegetation, like ethnologist Ion Ghinoiu Easter. This strange holiday, with Europe, some ethnologists deriving the used to call Sângiorz, at the same time regard to which there are numerous name “rohmani” from that of the Indian identifying him with the Thracian stories, is also called the Easter of “Brahmans” and defending its Indo- Knight, is the one who defeats the Rohmans or Mătcălăul. Mătcălăul is the European origin. dragon, counteracts the mildew spells, patron of girls, who, on this day, become reveals to the good people the location sisters of the holy cross. He is Sângiorz (St. George) – god of of the hidden treasures, he is the witness considered to be the younger brother of fields and time guard of the agreements between shepherds Easter, half human, half angel, beautiful and the one who opens the New and immortal, whom we cannot see, Archetype of the ancient civilizing Pastoral Year. because the world desecrated. It is heroes, military martyr represented in believed that on this day, the souls of the icons as killing the “beast”, Saint George Beginning of the Pastoral Year dead return home in order to feast, and has his correspondent, who is not less if someone forgets to give repast for fabulous, in the Folkloric Calendar – In the Folkloric Calendar of Romanians, them, they come at night to ask for food. “Sân-Giorgiul” or “Sângiorzul”. Making the end of April means the beginning of It is the day of Blajini and it must be the nature green and seeding all the the New Pastoral Year. It is the time of properly celebrated. Blajini are mythic- seeds, protecting the herds and flocks, forming the flocks, of the first milking, folkloric entities about which it is told Sângiorz is the “first time guard”, the of “măsuriș” (milk weighting), it is the that they live on the Netherworld, in the one who opens the New Pastoral Year, time to light the live fire, to engage the White Isles of the Saturday’s Water, the dividing it into two seasons. He is the shepherds and to establish the grazing mythical river located at the border brother of Sâmedru (St. Demetrius), the places. The days are under the sign of between the two worlds. They are also fruit picker, also the protector of the numerous ritual, organizational, called “Ragmani”, “Rohmani” or shepherds. economic and even legal practices. “Rugmani” and it is believed that they took shape out of the immaculate souls It is told that in ancient times, the two Great wanderers, with a philosophical of the children who died without being saints were wandering on Earth and vision on life, being familiar with the baptized or that they are the descendant people were seeing them riding on the mountains and the sky, the valleys and of primordial people present at genesis. back of their horses and organizing the hidden pathways, the plants and people, The only time of the year when people time. On April 23rd, Sângiorz was the remedies and stories, the shepherds can communicate with them is on the receiving the key of the seasons from the have a time and a space which belong day of Easter. Then, the virgin girls and hand of Sâmedru, closing the bad only to them, a horizon not known by the “forgiven” women throw painted egg weather with one key, and with the us, towards which they raise their eyes shells in streams so that, one week later, other key, he was releasing summer. every day. The Pastoral Calendar, to receive the news of Resurrection. Both Saints were keeping the weather received and kept from ancient times, keys attached to their girdles in order attests the durability of their class. It is In folkloric stories, Blajini are kind, for them not to be stolen by anyone a calendar with two seasons in which wise, always happy, they do not know from the doors of the seasons and to summer begins on April 23rd, on the what war, evil, hate or lie means, and if play with the weather as they like. And day of Saint George, comes to a head on you stick your ear to the ground, you can after they closed them, a saint was going July 20th, on the day of Saint Elijah, hear them enjoying the holiday. It is on the right and the other one was going leaving room for winter as of October said that on the day of their Easter, they on the left at six month distance from 26th, on the day of Saint Demetrius.

IA (Romanian traditional blouse) – art object, generating identity conversation From April 11th until April 22nd, the represented the base of creative exposure the rural Romania of 1930’s could be exhibition called IA – signs and story, of over 50 Romanian blouses from the seen by those passionate about our could be visited at Promenada Mall in interwar period, and also of curatorial peasant culture. The exhibition took Bucharest. The installation – inspired by texts. The scenography was done by place for the first time within the project the structure of the “Endless Column” Giulian Dumitriu. called Cultural Days of the National Bank (Coloana Infinitului – Sculptural of Romania (November – December, ensemble) of Constantin Brâncuși – has A photography album with pictures from 2014).

26 27 Rural Romania – No. 26

representative Easter custom at Roșia Montană and everybody participates. People wait for the moment of Resurrection in church and, Easter in the Romanian countryside: afterwards, they gather outside, on hills, where they party until the next day with food prepared for Easter tradition, faith and cheerfulness and red wine. Metal tubes with one obstructed end are provided. Carbide and water is inserted through the other end. After releasing the gas, the metal tube is lit and a deafening explosion takes place. Such explosions can be heard until dawn, when the Resurrection Service finishes at monasteries. Meanwhile, the old people go home, but the young people party until the break of dawn, shooting carbide .”

In Bistra Commune, Alba County, another ancient custom has been kept – “Prăgșorul”, practiced by the young people from the villages. It is a 250 years old custom introduced by Petru Pavel Aron, the Greek-Catholic bishop. Three young unmarried men are chosen to guard the semantron moved in the church yard, and the “Grave of Jesus” symbolically threatened in the church. They start guarding on the from the rest of the eggs from museum. The Easter Supper consists Good Friday, dressed in military Bucovina based on the combination of in dishes specific to Bucovina, in the uniforms, and, until the second day of colours. If for Bucovina the intense, centre of which there is the lamb Easter they shoot with carbide and vivid red, pink, blue and green are prepared in a multitude of ways. strike the semantron. After the service representative, in Vama we work from Monday, the “soldiers” change with soil shades, dark colours, from Ţara Moţilor guards during the into national costumes and participate yellow and brown to black, these Night of Resurrection to a great feast at Community Centres colours being also find on the local with folklore signers, traditional songs Every year, the Romanian people the past, the villagers used to shoot miracle. national costume. With regard to the At Roșia Montană, Alba County, eggs and dishes cooked for Easter. celebrates Easter with a lot of with the gun all night long, observing patterns, we borrow the motifs of the are naturally painted by using red bustle. When expecting the the rhythm of the church bells which In Vama Village, the atmosphere on same national costume, geometrical onion on the day prior to Easter. All Ţarina Pension from Roșia Montană Resurrection of Jesus, many triumphantly sounded until the break Easter Holiday is dominated by the motifs and symbols, like the cross, the the people from Ţara Moţilor boil the was opened in 2009, in a former ancient customs, beliefs and of dawn, announcing the victory of famous custom of painting the eggs. sun, the water, the sky with stars, the dry layers of the red onions, and then, private home. It is a spacious and traditions come to life in the Jesus over death. The tourists are expected at the Egg ear, the leaf.” The eggs from Bucovina they insert the eggs, which obtain an clean house with rustic and Romanian village, making the Museum opened and maintained by can be kept for many years. “On the extremely resistant colour that cannot picturesque aspect. The furniture is tourists feel like time travellers. In Bucovina, the Night of Resurrection the family of the famous popular day of Easter, we knock red dyed be removed. If pink eggs are desired, made of natural wood, but the deserves to be celebrated in Dragoș artisan Letiţia Orșvischi Heiser. eggs, and we keep the painted eggs. If red onion layers and white onion emphasis is placed not on the interior The fire of faith burn in Bucovina Vodă wood church which is called by they are kept away from any source layers are boiled. An old method is decors, but on the lifestyle. Ţarina the villagers the Old Church of Putna. „In Bucovina there are two egg of heat, they can be passed from one used for the pattern: the boiled egg is Pension is located in a dream-like One of the most beautiful and ancient It is located in Putna Village and it is painting techniques: in relief with generation to another because they wrapped in a trefoil or wild strawberry décor, on a green plateau, and the Easter tradition was kept in the said that it is the old medieval word wax, a technique unique in the world, last for long time .” leaf and it inserted in a silk sock and owner also has an animal farm, so the villages from Bucovina. We are talking church from Romania. It seems that it and the technique in colours”, tied. In this way, the delicate pattern meals are served only with natural about “Focurile de Veghe” (Guarding was built in the 14th century by the revealed Delia Orșvischi, the mother In 2009, in Horodnic de Sus Village of the leaf nervures prints on the egg healthy dishes cooked based on the Fires) or “Focurile de Paști" (Easter Voivode of Moldavia, Dragoș Vodă, in of the artist Letiţia. „We paint eggs the Inn of the Voivods was opened. It shell. local recipes. The spinach pies, pork Fires), which were lit on hills, and Volovăţ Village. Approximately 120 traditionally, with the instrument is a pension which reflects the noble roast and dairy products, accompanied nowadays, they are lit only in the years later, Ştefan cel Mare (Stephen called “chișiţă”, long and thin, spirit of Bucovina. The decors are If the beautiful national costume is by the traditional brandy are church yards. No one should sleep on the Great) moved it in Putna Village, provided with horse hair for dosing rustic, with dark wood furniture worn on holidays only by the old considered by the tourists true the Night of Resurrection. The fire is nearby the monastery with the same the quantity of wax. It is difficult, but inspired from the traditional furniture people from the village, the young culinary experiences. kept lit all night long, and the villagers name. It is said that based on their also beautiful; painting an egg with from Bucovina. The textile decorations people from Roșia Montană carry gather around it to tell stories about fantastic faith, the people from wax in relief can last up to five hours .” are full of joy and colour, borrowing forward a few very old and fascinating „For the Easter meal of the people Jesus Christ. This custom is said to Bucovina succeeded into moving their geometrical and flower motifs specific customs. “ Carbide shooting is the from Ţara Moţilor the lamb is have its origin in the fire next to which small church in one night, so that its In Bucovina, the eggs painted in Vama to the popular art from Bucovina. The favourite custom of all ”, said Eugen representative. A special dish is Apostle Peter warmed his body on the sudden appearance at Putna remained Village are easily recognized. “ The egg rugs, linens, curtains make the tourists David, the President of Alburnus prepared from lamb organs. Together night Jesus was betrayed by Judas. In in the memory of the villagers as a painted at Vama distinguishes itself feel like they are in an ethnography Maior Association. “ It is the most with this dish, the people from Ţara

28 29 Rural Romania – No. 26

egg painting. The person who raised this trade at art level was the artisan Tudor Diaconeasa born in a family of potters. He got the idea of using motifs specific to Horezu ceramics to decorate Easter eggs. Diaconeasa placed Oboga Village on the map of popular creation from Olteia. “ He painted eggs with specific motifs from Oltenia, something that was not seen before. The symbols adorning the ceramics of his father also decorated the eggs – the fish, the frog, the rooster, the cherub and the seraph, the hoopoe, the lily of the valley. Diaconeasa died, but painting the eggs with motifs from Oltenia was kept in Oboga Village and it was also taken over in Balș Village ”, said Ioan Oltenia, especially for foreigners .” atmosphere and the customs seem to wife paints glass icons. With my Bălosu. In Oltenia, eggs are painted on The beauty of the view towards Parâng be the same for more than a hundred sculptures, I want to promote the the Good Friday by women. Mountains is accompanied by the years. The houses are disseminated, former curriculum of the School of stylish charm of pelargonium pots some of them on hills, others at the Arts and Trades established by Marie At Poiana Mare, Izbiceni, Vădastra which surround the construction, and foot of the mountains, and the of Romania. Not so many people and Vișina from Olt County, the most also a flower garden. villagers continue to farm and raise know the complexity of the symbol of Moţilor drink red wine and eat pound he got hired at the enterprise. Whom spectacular Easter custom takes place animals. It is said that the village is one the popular wood creation. Each cake and home-made cakes ”, said shall I pass the trade? Some children during the first three days of Easter: The Easter meal of the people from of the oldest from Romania, and the wood carving has its own significance Eugen David. came from Deva. I have taught them “round funeral feast dance”. It is a Oltenia contains a few elements villagers are still considered and bears a history of the beliefs of the trade for one year, but I do not tradition specific only to the villages specific to the area: fish and lamb descendants of the Dacians. Romanian people. The potters from Obârșa are think that they will consider pottery a from Oltenia and Banat. “ People dishes, the customary green pair waiting for the resurrection of profession .” gather in the centre of the village and consisting in scallion and green garlic, “In the villages from Muntenia, the In Muntenia, the specificity of wood their trade musicians also come there. A wide red wine as a symbol of Jesus blood, Easter holiday is soberly celebrated, sculpture is given by the used raw Oltenia, crossed by the round dancing circle (the circle of the pound cake. “ People from Oltenia do because it is a pure religious material – soft wood, lime wood, red In Obârșa Village from Tomești procession of flames from the round dance symbolizes reunion) is not bake matzoth (pască). In the experience, so a great emphasis is willow wood, poplar wood, nut and Commune, Hunedoara County, every cemeteries made and the family of the deceased villages from Southern Oltenia, the placed on spirituality ”, said Gheorghe cherry wood. Gheorghe Mateescu year people are waiting for the Day of puts offerings with red painted eggs, table is filled with fresh greens. The Mateescu, one of the most famous mainly sculpts decorative and the Resurrection also with hope for the Salcia Village from Dolj County wine and flowers in the middle of it, pound cake is sweet and nourishing. wood sculptors of Muntenia. “ During household objects, especially the ones popular trade. Mircea Borza is 75 years provides to tourists an intense and while the musicians sing the favourite Alms and season fruits, especially the Holy Week, people participate in used in the kitchen. Any element old and he is one of the last two potters overwhelming spiritual experience. On song of the deceased and call him/her cherries, are given away. In the Easter services. During this period, carved by him is decorated with from locality. For hundreds of years, the Week of Palm Sunday, all villagers by his/her name ”, explained Ioan villages from Horezu region, many fairs dedicated to popular Romanian traditional symbols. “The Obârșa has been famous at prepare themselves spiritually for Bălosu. especially in Vaideeni Village, trades, glass or wood iconography rosette is the symbol of the sun, which international level for its special reuniting with the deceased family traditional dishes are prepared at the festivals, religious manifestations are provides light, the rooster is the ceramics. Obârșa ceramics is very members. “ As of the Maundy In Baia de Fier Village from Gorj sheepfold. There are many shepherds also organized. The community symbol of resurrection, two united similar to Horezu ceramics, but in Thursday, absolutely all villagers go County, the tourists are welcomed at and food is cooked like in ancient centres organize courses of initiation turtledoves symbolize love, the owl is contrast with it, the vessels have two in the morning at the cemetery to light D&D pension for a traditional times, based on old shepherd recipes ”, in the egg painting art, with the the symbol of wisdom. In the roles: decorative and utilitarian. fires for the dead, with corn cobs. experience from Oltenia. The house is said Ioan Bălosu. participation of skilled artisans. After Romanian tradition, the sun and the Candles are lit and the deceased approximately 150 years old and the the Resurrection ceremony, people go moon are very important. They seem “I have been working since the age of family members are called at. owners decided to pull it down, but the Muntenia greets the home where they knock red painted to be connected by an impossible love 10, and I inherited the trade from my Everything starts with the belief that neighbours advised them to restore it Resurrection with solemnity eggs, dink red wine, eat lamb, pound story .” grandparents. I can make any pot, during this period, the sky opens and and to include it in the touristic circuit. cake and matzoth. In many villages, from cabbage rolls pot to milk pots, Virgin Mary and the saints become “Me and my wife worked to restore it. For the villagers from Pietriceaua, wide round dance circles are made, Gheorghe Mateescu is one of the few water mugs of various sizes. I often intermediaries between the The furniture is the original one and Prahova County, the adornment of the people visit their relatives and friends artisans who have someone to pass decorate them with white and black, immortals and God. The dead return the tourists are invited to sleep in church and cleaning the graves are and cheer .” their cultural inheritance, namely to and the combination of colours is home for a short period of time to large solid oak wood beds. These are basic occupations during the period grandchildren. “ Our home looks like intertwined by a wood-like border, unite with those who are still alive ”, the beds of my great-grandparents ”, prior to Resurrection. During the Holy Gheorge Mateescu has exclusively an ethnographic museum. We are because of the earthy colour of the explained Ion Bălosu from Oltenia said the owner of the pension. The Week, people gather at the church on dedicated himself to the popular art at trying to turn the objects that clay. But I also use brighter colours, Museum. “From Salcia Village and construction has two bedrooms, one daily basis and participate in Denii the age of 50, for the sake of the disappeared from the Romanian green, yellow, black and red obtained crossing the entire region, up to the bathroom, a kitchen and a cellar. (Easter Services). The most expected memory of his parents and village into thesauruses. That is why from plants ”, said Mircea Borza. mountain villages from Oltenia, Insider there are decorative objects one is the Friday Evening Service grandparents, all of them being we have made the attic from wood in Vaideeni, Costești, Bodești, fires are lit from Oltenia: Horezu ceramics, during which the Burial Song of Jesus artisans, but also because of health the style of the popular art, with It is said that the cabbage rolls pot was in cemeteries as a procession of textiles with motifs inspired by the is sang, the priest takes out of the Holy problems. He became one of the wood beams sculpted with zoomorphic invented at Obârșa, and the pots kept ancient beliefs from Oltenia.” national costume from Oltenia, wood Altar the Cross and flowers are placed sculptors with the most awarded motifs. We have collected national the most Dacian influences. But painted icons inherited from the before it. Pietriceaua was included in a prizes, having approximately 80 costumes and other fabrics, some of nowadays, the trade becomes extinct. Oboga Village from Olt County has grandparents. “ We also prepare top of the most beautiful villages from excellency diplomas and prizes. “ I them being 300 years old .” “I have a 20 years old grandson, but become famous as a centre for Easter dishes with traditional food from Romania, because of the fact that the artistically process the wood, but my

30 31 Rural Romania – No. 26

People Women from Frâncești stroke back. Maria Hulea had the initiative of establishing a group of the women from the villages crossed by Bistriţa River. Women voluntarily take care of the monuments, planting flowers in public Maria Hulea, from Gorj County, the woman areas, cleaning the cemeteries. “Additionally, we have organized at who blesses the place Frâncești vocational qualification courses for women. Currently, we have three women in the village who opened stores. ”

Maria Hulea was also an example for the children from Frâncești. She inoculated them with the love for trips. amount necessary for the rehabilitation law has not been applied yet, and Thus, on every 1st of June, bus trips are of the building. “ As of the spring of maximum 60% of the people received organized. “ Even the students have 2015, through the agency of the the ownership title on the land. The learnt to take care of themselves. They Association, we intend to find ownership titles are not issued. It has pay their trips, which they organize volunteers for the repair works at the got to the point where the villagers together with Frâncești Village Sons museum. We want to mobilize the fight for land, sue each other, because Association. It is their task to look for young people and to develop the they do not know how this law must bus drivers with experience, but at the cultural aspect of Arcani especially that actually be applied. Many documents same time not expensive. The children the traditions have not perished here .” filled with errors have been issued. have learnt to get involved .” People from Arcani are old, but very From love for nature and justice active and willing to get involved .” From love of tradition and culture In 2008, Maria Hulea established the In this regard, Maria Hulea wants for Based on the idea that a person who Association for Community the citizens to be informed in order to does not know his origins is an Development Initiatives from North understand the situation and to be able uprooted person, Maria Hulea has also Oltenia, having few major objectives: to discuss with regard to the solutions. implemented numerous cultural community development, environment She intends to confront the people with projects, one of which being the protection and defence of the right of the employees of the City-Hall in order publication of the monograph of the citizens. The first project of this to solve the issue of the ownership titles. Frâncești Village with the help of the association was focused on the nature. Village Sons Association from Gorj. “We intended to clean Jaleș River, and Message for change in partnership with PACT Foundation, In 2011, at Frâncești, a festival of we have mobilized all citizens from Restless, full of ideas and joy, Maria For over 15 years, Peștișani Commune active and the masters of their own approximately four years, but people folkloric songs and national costumes Arcani. We informed them about the Hulea has the satisfaction of seeing the from Gorj has been going through destiny. In the opinion of Maria Hulea, were gland to become involved and the was initiated with the participation of importance of protecting the results of her efforts. She started on this serious changes. The most important is the access to information is the greatest got used to the taste of the freedom of the entire community, on the holiday of environment, we talked them about the path being decided to change the way in legislation and we have explained them which people think, in order to help the change of mentality. People have ally in the fight for the improvement of taking care of themselves ”, said Maria St. George. “ We gave it the aspect of a festival, calling singing groups from what fines are they going to pay, if they themselves, to manage on their own at learnt to take initiative with the support life conditions and, based on the Hulea. The lack of funds did not popular schools. It takes place on do not take care of the nature. In this local level. “ Life in the rural area starts of only one person: Maria Hulea, a 69 projects initiated in 2000, she has discourage her. Money was given by the annual basis, after Easter, outdoor, on way the entire garbage, which was to be truly lived, and people feel the years old Biology teacher, who is now invited her fellow citizens to become villagers, from donations and as a result a hill from Frâncești Village. I put a thrown on the embankments of Jaleș need to manifest themselves in the retired. Her simple, but efficient ideas part of the changes in rural areas. Being of organizing artistic events focused on single condition to people: to come River, was collected. People also sense of traditions. Tradition is the have marked a new beginning. open to new ideas, the citizens from the tradition. dressed in national costumes. understood the necessity of collectively blood of the villagers and only area have taken the advice of Maria. Irrespective of their age, everyone who and selectively collecting the garbage – patriotism and a little artistic spirit are At the age when other women raise At the same time, Maria Hulea also comes to the Festival from Frâncești each farm has a space assigned for necessary to allow them to express. their grandchildren, Maria Hulea is From love for work organized vocational training courses in must wear the national costume. In the biodegradable domestic wastes, and Since 2008 we have evolved a lot as a preoccupied by the future of her fellow Frâncești Village with the intention of beginning they did not agree, but now, the garbage is kept in bags and waste civil society at Frâncești and Arcani. villagers. She lives in Frâncești Village, “In 2003, I established the Frâncești providing the young people with a trade they love to come dressed that way. bins and collected by a special vehicle People are interested in taking care of but she manifested her energy even in Village Sons Association. Afterwards, I and a future in the construction field. Due to the festival, more and more on certain days of the week ”, said Maria their farms, to rediscover the national the neighbouring villages. Everywhere did the same at Arcani, Rânca, children from Frâncești enrol to the Hulea. costume and to have it at home. They there is a problem, Maria Hulea Peștișani and Brădiceni. I started on “An education project dedicated to Popular School from Peștișani .” want to spend their free time as nice discovers the opportunity of a change. this path with the desire to develop the young people was carried out. They Mrs. Hulea is currently involved in an and as relaxing as possible for their civil society from Frâncești, and the participated in classes of plasterers, In Arcani locality, Grigore Pupăză advocacy campaign in Arcani. It is soul ”, said Maria Hulea. She has established a series of first project here was the rehabilitation and the practical work was Museum is also going to benefit of intended for the application of the law associations with the help of which she of the Saint George Wood Church. The represented by the rehabilitation of the support. Maria Hulea convinced the no. 18/1991 on lands. “ Arcani is gave people the opportunity to become rehabilitation process took social group from the schoolyard .” local council to assign a part of the currently the only locality where the

32 33 Rural Romania – No. 26

Bacău Vegetable Growing Research and Development Unit: the brands created in 30 years provide self-financing

and foreign resources of germoplasm to I thought that we could support provide these products because they the use of biotechnologies. ourselves without expecting from are varieties created and patented by anyone to solve our problems. I am VGRDU from Bacău. Talking about the vocation of always open for new things and I wish researcher with excitement to learn as much as possible in order to We made a name for ourselves with the share the information with my brands we have created. Thanks to this Dr. Eng. Silvica Ambaruș, manager of extraordinary colleagues! If the name, we are called and we can exist VGRDU from Bacău and the president Romanian agricultural research has with self-financing. We live from what of the Society of Horticulture from resisted through time, we have to thank we produce. We are contracted on Bacău, has published over 150 scientific those who still have the love and daily basis by telephone or email by at works, both in the country and abroad. passion for this profession in their least two or three persons, and by 15- She is the author of patents for new souls. 20 persons during the harvesting varieties of plants and she participates period. With patience and a lot of tact Bacău Vegetable Growing Research and production under biological agriculture •Integrated control of vegetable in various international projects. Building a brand takes time and it we respond to the requests which need Development Unit was established in conditions. diseases and pests; consists not only in choosing an information and professional support. 1974 in the context of carrying out the •Micro-propagation and obtaining of „I feel accomplished, because I love interesting name, a motto. The brand The simple people from the countryside programme of self-supply and Below are a few of the top activities of genetic vegetable and flower material of what I do and because the environment is the experience of the client as a result do not stay indebted. Whether it is a development of a modern and efficient the researchers from VGRDU Bacău high biological value; and the people with who I work offer of the interaction with your products. postcard on a holiday or a message or vegetable growing in the area of rendered evident by Dr. Eng. Silvica •Advice, technical support and design me a lot of positive energy. I have truly That is why, if there are still research a good word of appreciation for Moldavia, where production and Ambaruș, the manager of the for the organisation and exploitation of loved the profession of horticulturist, units in the Romanian agriculture, they helping and advising them sincerely research traditions related to the institution: (conventional and biological) vegetable which I am still practicing. VGRDU have survived because of the brands and without any interest, counts more vegetable crop were relatively reduced. •Creation of new vegetable and flower farms. Bacău is my only workplace. I have which they have created for than any amount of money. The Vegetable Growing Research and hybrids and varieties and obtaining been working here since the themselves. Development Unit (VGRDU) from seeds from superior biological Creating new hybrids and varieties of establishment of the unit. I grew here, I I believe in a better Romania and I Bacău carried out interdisciplinary categories. Maintenance of the diversity vegetables and fruits and obtaining have learnt and trained as a person When the Romanian consumer wants fight every day to leave a better world research in the area of improvement, of vegetable and flower species, seeds from superior biological and as a specialist, as a professional. I the climbing French bean with wide, behind me. We have valuable people physiology, production of seeds and preservation of valuable genetic categories was the primordial objective have gone through good and not so yellow, unctuous pod, the pepper with and we can accomplish great things by biological stock from superior biological resources; of VGRDU from Bacău. The genetics good periods. Many of my colleagues yellow fruit at technological maturity keeping our integrity in all that we do ”, categories in vegetables and flowers, •Establishment of modern vegetable and improvement laboratory gave up their jobs, choosing another and bright red at physiological said Dr. Eng. Silvica Ambaruș. integrated control of pathogenic agents, and flower planting technologies for approaches diverse themes, from the more reliable and better paid maturity, the autumn cabbage with in vitro cultures, research and conventional and ecological system; collection and study of autochthonous profession. fine leaves for cabbage rolls, we can

34 35 Rural Romania – No. 26

Experiences

My farm: Super-intensive pear orchard from Stăuini, Alba - the impact of Spanish experience, a lesson of entrepreneurship and technology

In order to develop the project, Petru The economic results are directly European standards. “ In Spain, the Morar went together with the related to the used technique and stores analyse all the fruits from this consultant to inform directly from the technologies. The Spanish model was perspective. You cannot access the source, at the farmer from Lleida successfully adapted to the local market in other way ”, said Ionela (Spain). The costs, often prohibitive, conditions. The rootstocks on which Morar. for establishing an orchard are also the varieties are grafted impress a generated by the prices of the small vigour, rapid growth, precocious At the super-intensive fruit-growing necessary equipment. With the help of fructification. farm from Stăuini, which was created the acquired non-cutter, one spraying and exploited by implementing machine, one transportation tow. In a Being initially brought from Spain, modern technique and technologies, super-intensive orchard, the varieties where they are kept in refrigerators, work three permanent employees (one grafted on small vigour rootstock need therefore available for a longer period fruit-growing engineer, one worker irrigation, because they cannot resist during the year, they were plated in and one administrator), and during to extended draught. In order to several stages, at 50 cm distance from the picking period, maximum ten prevent this risk, they have built a one another and at 3.5 m distance persons are hired. dripping irrigation system, which is between rows. By reducing the rarely encountered in Romania, and a distances between trees, it is no longer For the time being, the fruits are sold water tank with 20,000 m 3 capacity. necessary to use ladders and only on the internal market, where mechanical platforms for picking. Cuts there is a great demand. We have not Currently, the family cultivates to the tree are done in order to form yet have a sufficient production for The orchard from Stăuini, Alba older passion for life in the middle of provided all the information they approximately 20 hectare in super- the crown and to rarefy the fruits so as contracts with supermarkets, but this County, is a reference example for an the nature, they started to make a plan needed. Even now, the Spanish farmer intensive regime. Near the pear to ensure a relatively constant year, the production is very good and orchard at European standards, which in order to fulfil their dream. Ionela comes to Romania, sometimes 5-6 orchard, they have cherry tree production each year. All these it is foreseen for such initiative to be renders evident the advantages of a Morar says that they have collected a times per year, continuing to share his plantations on 6.5 hectares, peach significantly improve not only the opportune. super-intensive culture based on the lot of information before taking this experience. plantations on 3.5 hectares, hazelnut productivity of plantation, by lowering spectacular results obtained from the step. “ In Spain, there are orchards orchards on 2 hectares and nut the costs, but also the quality of fruits. “We like very much what we are third year as of its establishment. famous for their fruitfulness. We After analysing the land, which orchards on two hectares. “ We do not doing, but we realized that we should found out about Lleida, a locality 200 showed that the microclimate is know other farmers in the area to The biggest risks are related to pests have started with less…Although it is Petru Morar began his life as a farmer km away from Barcelona, famous for favourable to certain crops, especially have super-intensive plantations ”, and sudden weather chilling. For an aid and we could not have when he returned to Romania after 13 the intensive pear plantations ”. A to pears, the two spouses started the said Ionela Morar. The pears are the pests, the farmer often consults with a accomplished so much in such a short years of experience in managing a Romanian who also worked in business with six hectares. The initial ones which gave them the greatest specialist in plant protection from a period, a financing with European construction company which he had construction field, but who was investment is high compared, for satisfaction. The pear orchard company from Alba Iulia, who money from the beginning of the established in Spain, together with his passionate about fruit-growing and example, to a cereal crop, raising to occupies 5.5 hectares with 5,700 provided him with many useful activity causes a very high pressure. wife. They came back to Romania on a admired the farms from the region approximately EUR 35,000/ha. In trees/hectare. Six varieties of pears are advices. Fruitful plantations are not Such plantation is a long term holiday, they did not find Romanian guided them in a tour of the orchards. 2010, the accessed non-repayable cultivated and another 30 varieties are possible without using spraying investment. In order to succeed, it is pears and then they thought of One of the visited farmers, being funds in amount of EUR 300,000 experimented. Last year, they obtained against pests and diseases. But the necessary to be passionate and pay returning home for good to start a pear delighted with the interest of under 2007-2013 National Rural 20 tons of pear per hectare! A surprise concentration of solution, the number attention to details ”, says Petru Morar orchard. Romanians and the intention to Development Programme, Measure for the third year since establishment of sprays, the period and the modality for the farmers who want to initiate multiply the experience of super- 121 “Modernization of agricultural even if we are talking about a super- of application must be strictly such business. With entrepreneurial spirit and an intensive cultures in Romania, holdings”. intensive plantation. controlled in order to comply with the

36 37 Rural Romania – No. 26

My business: South Dobrogea Cooperative, the successful story of the farmers from Dobrogea

necessarily the cheapest product .” member, irrespective of his seniority tasks to a team of professionals ”, said -Sale and purchase of goods at the in South Dobrogea Cooperative, has Ionuţ Lungoci. most advantageous prices for the a single vote ”, explained Ionuţ cooperating members; Lungoci. Recommendations for -Sale of cereals with a focus on added beginning value. “ We fight to obtain a correct Another aspect that must be cleared price considering the investments of out: the lands are not considered When the farmers decide to establish the farmers and the crop .” mutually owned, but each farm a cooperative, they must clearly know -Supporting the farmers by providing maintains its individuality, it remains what they want to do. It is essential to them with various services: specialty self-standing, each member decides establish a well-defined objective advice, intermediation of insurances, on the modality in which he works his from which to begin the development intermediation of diesel fuel own land, and the stage in which the of an action plan. Thus, there is the transactions. sale or purchase of goods is risk for the negotiations to extend and negotiated takes place at cooperative not to have a finality. In 2006, many farmers from should be the responsibility of a over 60,000 tons of cereals from “On average and long term, we want level. Dobrogea discussed in order to find a seller. This is the role of our cooperating members. to develop the cooperative with a raw “When you establish a cooperative, common modality to develop their cooperative, of negotiator of the material processing service, which to “The basic activity of a cooperative is you must know that you have activity and to increase profit. Three farmer, controlled by the farmer ”, The future is ours provide added value. But until to provide benefits to its members, nothing to lose. The contribution to years later, South Dobrogea explained Ionuţ Lungoci. materialisation, we must also and when a cooperative is the share capital can be subsequently Cooperative was established. South Dobrogea Cooperative perform a feasibility study. In any established, its founders must recovered; the beginnings of a Currently, the cooperative has 43 The benefits of association were perseveres based on the motto “The case, this is one of the future plans of consider the fact that they start a cooperative rely on the procurement members as compared to 12, which it visible shortly after establishment, future is ours”, especially to reflect as South Dobrogea Cooperative ”, business related to their own farms and sale of products. The goods to be had in the beginning. therefore, other farmers expressed closely as possible the state of mind informed Ionuţ Lungoci. and they have the duty to seriously procured or sold is collected together, their wish to become members. “ The which animates the relations between get involved in its proper negotiated, transacted and the first Ionuţ Lungoci is one of the 12 adhering criteria are established the cooperating members. “ It is the Secrets of a cooperative functioning .” profit is obtained within the founding members of South under the Law no. 566 on regulation motto based on which we work and cooperative. The principle is very Dobrogea Cooperative, but, of cooperatives, but our cooperative which refers to the fact that the It happens for many young farmers In order for a cooperative to be simple: when you negotiate a larger meanwhile, he gave up the activity as also has a few specific aspects, profitability of farm is obtained not to understand very well what successful, it is necessary to be helped quantity of goods, by mutually a farmer, being hired in the position namely: the respective farmer must much easier if we are united, adhering to a cooperative implies. by professionals outside the collecting the goods of the of executive manager of the own a minimum area of 100 associated, namely by cooperation. ” They must know that, in a agricultural field. The farmer takes cooperating members, an advantage cooperative. hectares, to be on extended culture cooperative, the moment of adhering care of the activities inside the farm, to the profit results ”, explained Ionuţ (cereals, oil and fibre plants) and to As of the start, in 2009, South or the size of the farm does not but someone else must take care of his Lungoci. “South Dobrogea Cooperative was be recommended of at least two of Dobrogea Cooperative had clearly provide privileges to some to the finished product. established because of the needs of our cooperating members ”, said established a few specific objectives: detriment of others, according to Law South Dobrogea Cooperative also the farmers to negotiate better and Ionuţ Lungoci. -Supply of farms with inputs at good no. 566. Both the founding members „I am very pleased that, within South insists on the need to amend the Law this considering that the farmers prices and advising the farmers in and the cooperating members have Dobrogea Cooperative, the no. 566/2004 on agricultural should take care of their farms, In 2014, South Dobrogea Cooperative choosing the right product. “ We the same statute, the same rights and management members, I am cooperatives in the sense that it leaves because this is what they do best, scored a performance worth advise farmers to choose the product obligations, there is an absolute referring to those from the board of room for interpretations and while the negotiation of the goods mentioned, reaching to a turnover of with the best quality/price ratio, not equality between them. “ Each directors, understood to delegate the confusions.

38 39 Rural Romania – No. 26

My community: Heroiu Orchard supports the community: jobs for the villagers from Dobrești, Argeș County

reaches through a separator in a Secretary of Dobrești City-Hall. stainless steel container, afterwards in a pasteurisation device, where it is The investment of Mihai Heroiu was thermally treated at 80 degrees of approximately EUR 40,000, and Celsius. he hopes that next year, the fourth year since the establishment of the A special advantage is represented by factory, he will obtain profit. Based on the modality of packing, based on the German “recipe”, if the equipment “bag-in-box” system: in a cardboard have been used at maximum capacity box is placed a bag equipped with tap every day, the investment would have for tight closing. The fruit juice is amortised in a single year. At only 20 kilometres away from protected against oxidation, Topoloveni, in the fruit heaven, a microorganisms and bacteria, which, “It is an occupation which I like and private initiative provides benefits to by hot bottling, might deteriorate it. which gives me great satisfactions. I the community from Dobrești, Argeș As the juice is consumed, the air from believe that things must be done County. Mihai Heroiu, a man born the bag is vacuumed, and the juice slowly, but healthy. A brand is and raised in that village, has remains fresh for a long time, the hardly created, but it can have a succeeded in establishing a business warranty period being of three weeks great value. I am glad that I can do which valorises the fruits from the as of the box opening. In the sealed something for the community and, at area, and, at the same time, provides boxes, thanks to this technology, the the same time, I can offer people jobs to his fellow villagers. He has a juice can be kept for one year as of something natural on a market rent-a-car business, but he thought bottling. The juice is produced from invaded by so many counterfeited or that in a place where God gave an several varieties of apples specific to even dangerous products. The juice abundance of fruits it is a pity not to the area: Ionatan, Creţesc, Golden, produced by us is much appreciated. try to turn them into good account. Rabbit Mouth or Florina. We have participated with it in many This is how he got the idea of fairs and exhibition, and, since processing a few tens of tons of apples During the first year from establishment, we have not missed from his own orchard, but also from establishment, the factory of Mihai any INDAGRA edition ”, proudly said the orchards of his relatives and Heroiu has produced 7.5 tons of apple Mihai Heroiu. neighbours. Therefore, in 2012, he juice. In the following year, 12.5 tons, built a small factory in a barn to and in 2014, the production increased For his juice, the investor from produce and bottle apple juice. to 20 tons. Each year, a double Dobrești has enough clients. Some of quantity of apples was processed. The them buy online, directly from the At first, the factory – a German small fruits were from his own orchard and website of the farm. The orders come size equipment, with a relatively from the villagers of Dobrești and from all over the country. Recently, simple technology, but with high Botești. Mihai Heroiu opened a store in efficiency – only had two employees: Bucharest, and the increased demand Mihai Heroiu and his wife, Daniela. „For our commune, the initiative of determined him to consider the During the three years from Mr. Heroiu was welcomed, development of the business. As of establishment, the number of considering the fact that there are no this summer, S.C. Ferma Heroiu employees reached seven and it is other private investments in the area, S.R.L. will also process other types of going to increase together with the and the unemployment rate is high. fruits – blackberries, blueberries and development of the business. The People from the area work at the box thorn – originating from Dobrești method is simple: the apples, which factory, others help with apple Commune or from the neighbouring are very well cleansed under a few picking, the villagers take their communes. Also, Mihai Heroiu water jets, are chopped and squeezed. apples to be processed. Additionally, intends to establish a jam The juice obtained under “Heroiu the taxes return to the local budget, manufacturing line. For the Orchard” brand, 100% natural, with which means another earning for the commune, these actions can translate no sugar, additives or preservatives, community ”, said Dan Sergiu, into jobs.

40 41 Rural Romania – No. 26

Leader to date

“Heart of Giurgiu” LAG – Neajlovului and Câlniștei Region

is the commune with the highest it is currently subject to a restoration “LAG as associative form and LAG number of historical monuments process, because we, the generation team are closer to the needs of the The territory of “Heart of Giurgiu” holdings, amounting EUR 299,591; Financing). from the county, namely seven, we of today, must also keep for the people, to citizens, public institutions, LAG – Neajlovului and Câlniștei -six projects under Measure 312, for The contracted projects are in various thought to make the most of a future generations these historical small entrepreneurs, farmers, and Region includes seven communes the support of small enterprises, implementation stages. A part of historical monument from the centre monuments ”, said Cornel Andrei, we must gain their trust and have from Giurgiu County (Bucşani, amounting EUR 668,957; those which implied equipment of the commune, a decommissioned History teacher. more courage to submit new projects Bulbucata, Clejani, Crevedia Mare, -a project of investments in tourist procurement were finalized. The school in which Nichifor Crainic via LAG ”, said Lucia Andrei. Găiseni, Ghimpaţi, Letca Nouă, activities, under Measure 313, contracted projects were finalised studied ”, said Lucia Andrei, the “Another project recently submitted Vânătorii Mici) and a commune from amounting EUR 56,950; with the purchase of agricultural Mayor of Bulbucata. with “Heart of Giurgiu LAG – In LetcaNouă commune, the 75 years Teleorman County (Mereni). Among -seven projects under Measure 322, equipment for soil processing, Neajlovului and Câlniștei Region” is old manager of a farm has accessed the areas represented by LAG there “Village renovation and development, sanitation, snow removal, tree cutting “This school, which was new for building a new kindergarten in European funds via LAG in order to are also some less favoured areas and improvement of basic services for and constructions. Other projects those times, has practically got the Teişori Village from Bulbucata develop his agricultural business, by Natura 2000 sites. rural economy and population and refer to the renovation of a people from Bulbucata out from the Commune. Why did we think about acquiring modern equipment. Ștefan pointing out rural inheritance”, community centre in Letca Nouă, state of ignorance. Our great poet this? Because Teişori and Făcău are Negru, the director of the company, “Heart of Giurgiu” LAG – Neajlovului amounting EUR 758,602. restoration of a local patrimony and philosopher Nichifor Crainic two villages of the commune which has a reversible plough and a and Câlniștei Region has assigned for building and construction of a studied here, making the name of the have a greater population even than combinatory of which he is very financing the projects, within 2007- In total, the amount of EUR 1,784,100 kindergarten in Bulbucata, commune known in the entire Bulbucata, and in order to provide proud. 2013 programming period, the was contracted. One project under establishment of a tailor shop and of a country, in 1940 finally being optimal study conditions for the amount of EUR 1,900,000. Until Measure 322, amounting EUR recreational tourism activity in appointed member of the Romanian children, because the building from You can find out more information April, 2015, the following were 73,819, and one cooperation project Găiseni, procurement of equipment Academy among the first forty men that village, without toilets and on “Heart of Giurgiu LAG – contracted: under Measure 421, amounting EUR for movie production etc. of the country, as Lucian Blaga said heating, was no longer adequate for Neajlovului and Câlniștei Region” at -five projects under Measure 121, for 5,000 are being evaluated at ARIF to him. It is a point of reference for carrying out the study activity .” www.galgiurgiu.ro the modernization of agricultural (Agency for Rural Investment “Considering the fact that Bulbucata the community from Bulbucata, and

42 43 Rural Romania – No. 26

2,359,945. 28 projects have been contracted until now, and one beneficiary did not conclude the contract with ARIF, although the project was initially eligible.

The following were contracted: - eight projects under Measure 112 „Mureșean Partnership” Local Action dedicated to young farmers; - a project under Measure 111, Group “Vocational training, information and knowledge dissemination”; - seven projects under Measure 312 – “Support for the establishment and development of small enterprises”; - one project under Measure 313, which supports tourism development; - 10 projects under Measure 322 – “Village renovation and development, improvement of the basic services for rural economy and population and Păingeni were equipped with national pointing out rural inheritance” (another costumes, and the community centres Building a tourist information centre in seven-eight contracts are expected); from Gornești were equipped with Gornești - a cooperation project under LAG, furniture and curtains for the stage. In Location: Gornești, Gornești Commune Measure 421 with the scope of Ernei, a mobile stage with sound and Financial support: EUR 99,783 promoting the touristic potential of the light system will be procured for event Objective: building a tourist area. organisation. The voluntary services for information centre emergency situations from Ernei, Among the beneficiaries of Measure 112 Glodeni and Gornești shall also be The area delimited by Gornești, Ernei, there are four beekeepers, one equipped with one specialized ATV each Glodeni, Voivodeni, but also the horticulturist and three farmers with for fire extinction. neighbouring commune, Sângeorgiu de mixed farms. Under Measure 312, two Mureș, dispose of significant touristic projects were selected for the Modernization of mixed farm with the potential, especially in the built and modernization of topography and support for young farmers cultural anthropic field. We mention geodesy services, one project for the Location: Săcăreni, Ernei Commune Teleki castles from Gornești, establishment of a small digital printing Financial support: EUR 32,000 Dumbrăvioara and Glodeni, house, one project for agricultural Objective: procurement of one tractor monuments built in the 17th – 19th service supply, one project for the and agricultural equipment centuries, Zichy mansion from procurement of instruments and Voivodeni, Balintitt mansion from equipment for artistic interpretation Orbán Lehel settled in Săcăreni Village Ernei, and in almost all big localities we activities, one project for the in 2008, intending to make an find a church from the category of type procurement of construction investment in rural tourism. Because he A monuments. On LAG territory, equipment. did not accomplished the initial national and international folkloric A project was submitted under Measure objective, he decided to establish an dance festivals are organized. 313 by Gornești Commune for building agricultural holding on a land close to a tourist information centre, which will his home. He built an annex, a shelter Sângeorgiu de Mureș is famous for serve the entire LEADER territory. for animals, he bought bovine and balneotherapeutic services and more, leased agricultural land for production having salt water of very good quality. The local authorities from the four of fodders for cows. Currently, he communes submitted a total of 17 cultivates over 23 ha of land and he This aspect was acknowledged by the The central nucleus of the villages from Gornești, Voivodeni, Glodeni and Ernei, „Mureșean Partnership” LEADER projects. They refer to building a owns 13 bovine. Mayor of Gornești, Kolcsár Gyula, who the micro-region in which “Mureșean including 22 villages. Association Local Action Group began kindergarten in Glodeni Commune, The general objective intended with the initiated a project for building a Partnership” LEADER Association was its activity in February, 2013, after renovation of the community centre submitted project is the modernization touristic information centre for the established is located in the flat „Mureșean Partnership” Local Action signing the financing contract. The first from Dumbrăvioara, street of the agricultural holding in order to entire area. The 95 sqm. building will be meadow of Mureș River, between Group was established in 2012 in order selection calls were launched in the modernization in Voivodeni Commune, increase and streamline the production, built and equipped with furniture and Reghin and Târgu Mureș. The micro- to access the development funds beginning of April, and 15 selection calls building multifunctional football courts first of all by procuring a tractor, but equipment. Additionally, presentation region is intensely varied, because, in available under Axis IV of NRDP. The have been launched until now. In total with artificial turf in Gornești and also agricultural equipment. The young materials shall be made for the addition to the wide meadow of Mureș local development strategy received 53 projects were submitted, of which 32 Ernei, equipping the communal man, who registered his farm as legal marketing and promotion of tourist River, it also includes the hilly borders financing of 2.785 million Euro, non- projects were declared eligible, four administration services in Glodeni, person, received the first instalment of activities: brochures, maps, website. between Niraj and Mureșean from the repayable funds, for the projects are still under evaluation, and Gornești, Ernei, where tractors, financing and he has already procured The construction works are being East side of Transylvanian Plain. From implementation of LEADER three eligible projects are still not bulldozers and lawn cutting machines the tractor. In the future, he wants to executed, and the tourist information administrative perspective, the micro- programme in the micro-region. contracted. The amount of the were procured. The community centres develop his farm also by increasing the centre will be inaugurated this year. region consists in four communes: contracted projects is of EUR from Toldal, Dumbrăvioara and number of animals.

44 45 Rural Romania – No. 26

MARD News

and artisans, and their number is increasing.

The producers who came to the fair as independent participants have delighted the visitors with cabbage rolls from Maramureş made with meat or mushrooms, green cheese pies, Moldavian pound cake from Botoşani, naturally smoked traditional meat products from Prodafum Bucharest, old plum brandy from Morăreşti, cheese from Vlăsineşti, dry plums from Leleasca, jams and syrups from Mărtănuş - Covasna, smoked trout from the trout farm from Doftana, cheese from Istrate Farm from Fundata – Braşov County, honey and apiarian products (royal jelly, pollen, energizing honey products), plum jam, hors d’oeuvre and marmalade from Topoloveni.

During the Palm Sunday Fair, the visitors have taken part in folkloric shows, which presented the spring customs with dances and songs specific for the Lent from Cluj, Maramureș and Bihor region. The folkloric show presented by the Artistic Ensemble of the Community Centre from Gilău, called “Apuseni Crown”, and by the artists from Cluj region, Maria Golban Șomlea and „Palm Sunday Fair” Marius Ciprian Pop, who performed short folkloric recitals that attracted a Bucharest, 3rd-5th of April, 2015 numerous audience, was very appreciated. From April 3rd until April 5th, 2015, great variety of products: honey and jewelleries, leather products, glass the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural apiarian products, Finișel lavender, products. Impressed by the quality of the Development (MARD) has hosted the lavender oils and accessories products and of the artistic show, “Palm Sunday Fair” in the courtyard originating from the first plantation of “Cluj Product” Association was Daniel Constantin, the Minister of of the institution. this kind from Transylvania (which established in the fall of 2010, its Agriculture, invited “Cluj Product” also benefited of non-repayable founders being Cluj County Council, Association to participate both with The event was organized together European financing), traditional dairy Cluj County Centre for the agricultural producers and with with “Cluj Product” Association and milk products, cold-pressed oils, Preservation and Promotion of popular artisans in the regional fair represented by 16 exhibitors from home-made chocolate and sweets, Traditional Culture and Agro from Slovenia in August. Daniel Cluj area, and also with 10 exhibitors pastry products, jams, syrups, natural Transilvania. The association was Constantin discussed with each from Argeș, Botoșani, Brașov, juices, traditional pickles and quality created in order to promote the exhibitor, saying that he was proud to Covasna, Olt, Maramureș, Prahova, wines. products, traditions and culture from have as guests the members of “Cluj Tulcea and Bucharest, who exposed Cluj County and to support tourism. Product” Association. certified ecological and traditional Additionally, national costumes were The association currently reunites products. The stands with “Cluj exhibited for sale together with wood approximately 200 agricultural Product” logo attached provided a carved objects, traditional dolls and producers, certified handicraftsmen

46 47 Rural Romania – No. 26

Introduction of the National Rural Development Network members

BRĂILA AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT UNIT

development unit that currently produces the largest transfer to economic agents). quantity of seed with high biological value from AAFS network, having the largest area dedicated to seed Brăila A.R.D.U. has zoned and produced for the agriculture multiplication. Each year, over 3,500 tons of seed are from North Bărăgan Field seeds for six varieties of wheat produced for various species for extensive crops. (Romulus, Alex, Dropia, Boema, Izvor, Glosa), four varieties of barley (Andrei, Precocious, Cardinal/Liliana, = Brăila A.R.D.U. is one of the main suppliers of Dana), one variety of triticale (Stil), two varieties of rice technological elements in agri-technical and hydrotechnical (Brăila, Polizești 28), five corn hybrids (Fundulea 376, field and of ameliorative elements for soil and climate Fundulea 322, Olt, Rapsodia and Champion), two varieties Brăila A.R.D.U. was established in 1953 (1954) as the first country established for studying the irrigated crops, conditions from North Bărăgan Plain. of soy (Precocious, Triumph), one sun-flower hybrid unit of scientific research for irrigated crops from Romania, contributing with data and information to the design, (Favourite), one variety of bean (Star). being called Brăila Agricultural Experimental Unit (A.R.U.). execution and monitoring of the land improvement works The scientific research activity carried out by Brăila In time, the unit has been organized in accordance with the (impoundment, drainages, irrigations) regarding the A.R.D.U. was focused on the following objectives: In the field of seed production for field crops, Brăila requirements and needs of agriculture, as economic branch, impounded precincts. -Zoning the varieties and hybrids from the field crops on A.R.D.U. has produced for the area of influence the quantity its name being changed for several times, and the scope of the waterside and plain soils (by identifying varieties and of 35,865,071 tons of seed, with which 4,293,234 hectares its activity being supplemented as follows: = Brăila A.R.D.U. is the unit which coordinated the national hybrids with specific adaptability for the conditions of were cultivated. -from 1962 until 1980, the unit became Brăila Zootechnical programme for the improvement and valorisation of salt North Bărăgan area); and Agricultural Research Unit (Z.A.R.U.) and developed a soils, which occupy 65,000 hectares at the level of Brăila -Establishing agro-phytotechnical measures for the main Remarkable results were obtained in the field of rice crop. new useful activity in the area, namely seed production for County and over 600,000 hectares at country level. field crops (by testing new fertilizers in order to homologate Thus, Brăila A.R.D.U. produced for the area of influence field and vegetable crops and development of an activity in them, controlling diseases and pests in the main field crops, 394,522 kg of rice seed and it has extensively contributed to the field of animal breeding (cows, porcine, ovine and = Brăila A.R.D.U. is the only units from the country which testing phytosanitary products in order to homologate them the revival of the rice-growing activity in North-East poultry for eggs); performs researches in the field of rice crop, an extremely etc.); Bărăgan area and also in the country. -from 1980 until 2002, the unit supplemented its activity important crop, because it feeds 66% of the global -Producing seeds from superior biological categories of by developing the research in the field of improving and population and has the capacity to adapt to thermal stress straw cereals and the new creations in the process of The results obtained with regard to the development of valorising the salt soils from Romania, the new name being conditions, and it perfected the first rice establishment of implementation on waterside soils (in the Great Brăila technological elements/ameliorative and cultural the Brăila Central Unit of Research for the Improvement of ameliorative type for salt soils. Island) and field soils (Brăila Terrace); technologies certify that Brăila A.R.D.U. has proposed Salt Soils (C.U.R.I.S.S.); -Perfecting rice cultivation technology (by improving the within the last 10 years 82 technological offers of which 30 -from 2002 until now, the unit has been reorganized in = Brăila A.R.D.U. has created Brăila-1 and Polizesti-28 rice efficacy of the chemical control of the weeds from rice crop, were published in order to apply them in production. These accordance with the new conditions and requirements of varieties, currently maintaining Polizesti-28 rice variety establishing new right fertilization recipes, creating new technological elements/ameliorative and cultural market economy and became Brăila Agricultural Research registered in the European catalogue of varieties and rice varieties, producing rice seeds from superior biological technologies are found in the following fields: improvement and Development Unit (A.R.D.U.). hybrids that can be cultivated on the entire territory of links: SA, PB I, PB II); and valorisation of salt soils, agrophytotechnique of crops Europe. -Studying the hydroclimatic modifications of the area and on zonal and azonal soils in the north-east side of In 2014, Brăila A.R.D.U. celebrated 60 years of activity in solutions to apply for the agricultural exploitation in the Romanian Plain, land improvement works, ecology and the service of the Romanian agricultural research. It is = Brăila A.R.D.U. is the agricultural research and area (by establishing elements for controlling draught and environment protection. organized and operates as public institution with legal development unit with the best results regarding the desertification for Brăila area, improving the technological character, in accordance with the Law no. 45/20.03.2009, identification of the new creations with adaptability to soil working measures drought conditions); The scientific activity of Brăila A.R.D.U. is found in over being subordinated to A.A.F.S., the national forum of and climate conditions from Brăila area and the -Transferring and extending the research results (by 350 specific materials (books, scientific papers in specialty academic dedication and coordination of the agricultural neighbouring counties. demonstrative fields for testing varieties and hybrids, magazines, media articles, essays, doctoral dissertations) scientific research activity. demonstrative lots for valorisation of salt soils with rice and conclusion of scientific service contracts. = Brăila A.R.D.U. was the first research unit from the = Brăila A.R.D.U. is the agricultural research and crop, drafting technical documentations of technological

48 49 Rural Romania – No. 26

A FEW OBJECTIVES IN THE RESEARCH SECTOR OF TÂRGU JIU HORTICULTURAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT UNIT

On May 3rd, 2015, 56 years will be celebrated since the capitalized. If we also add the fact that the researches with establishment of Târgu – Jiu Horticultural Unit under the regard to nut, quince and eatable chestnut trees were, in Order no. 309/1959 of the Minister of Agriculture. Fifty-six general, more reduced, and the fact that the fruit-growing years during which, the same as the hand of a compass, the patrimony with regard to these species has faced a Unit has indicated only one direction – the technical continuous decrease within the last 20 years, the approach progress. on a wider scale of the aspects related to these cultures is fully justified. and for export; of coal from carboniferous basins of Gorj County. The main established objectives were related to making - 15 new varieties were homologated, of which: four nut available to the great production from the area the adequate Improvement of nut, eatable chestnut and quince tree varieties, five eatable chestnut varieties, three quince Considering the very wide areas which were affected by assortment of trees and vine, the specific technologies for assortment varieties, one apple variety and one sour cherry variety, and aboveground mine exploitations, approximately 22,000 sub-Carpathian side of Oltenia, and also plantings stock of one nut and one eatable chestnut rootstock. hectares, the scientific research intends to solve the valuable varieties in order to increase the productivity of The activity was initiated in this field under the following following aspects: tree – wine-growing patrimony of the county. conditions: Development of planting stock production technologies. - Establishing the technology for the improvement of - Constituting private collections and germoplasm fund - Establishing the technologies for the exploitation of scraped land in order to re-include it in the productive Geographically, the territory of the unit is located with 86 varieties and origins in the case of the nut tree, 24 mother plantations supplying grafting branches for the agricultural circuit; immediately above the 45th parallel North, on the South in the case of eatable chestnut tree, and 65 in the case of fruit-growing species, including for the nut tree. - Establishing the assortment of species and varieties of side of sub-Carpathian area of Oltenia, being characterized quince tree; - Producing seeding material for the species of apple, pear, trees which to superiorly enhance the re-included land, by hills with altitudes between 348 and 503 meters, soils - Studying in the competition culture the most valuable quince, sour cherry, cherry, plum, nut and walnut. considering the soil and climate conditions specific to this with low natural fertility, significant acidity and temporary varieties, individual selections and elite hybrids from the area; humidity excess. autochthonous and foreign assortment in order to choose Improvement of technologies for the establishment and - Developing the differentiated technologies for planting the the most adequate ones for culture in Gorj County; exploitation of fruit-growing plantations with reference to: trees on scraped land; The priority directions under scientific report of the activity - Individual clonal selection in 1069 types of nut tree, 47 - Establishing new tree planting systems, in great density - Restoring the ecological balance of the scraped areas by of Târgu – Jiu Unit are oriented towards nut, chestnut and types of eatable chestnut tree and 513 types of quince tree. regime. developing in the unit, together with the agricultural crops, quince tree cultures, but without excluding some important The priority selection objectives were the productivity and - Developing new exploitation technologies with low energy forestry, fish farming, recreation areas etc.; achievements in other tree species with tradition in the resistance to diseases, fruit quality, quantity of proteins and consumption in the case of tree culture. - Enhancing by different agricultural crops the ash deposits area. sugar, core percentage, thickness of the shell or skin, - Establishing ameliorative complex of deficient podzolic resulted from the thermal plants, which are a source of resistance to frost, reduced growth vigour of the tree etc. soils with excess of humidity, and of sloping soils, in order pollution in the area; The reasons which pleaded for this specialization were, first - Homologation and incorporation in production of new to plant trees on them. - Production and use of organic and mineral fertilizers of all, the long and intense tradition in the culture of these nut, chestnut and quince varieties and of other good quality - Testing herbicides for the main species of trees and vine. based on lignite powder, transforming it from pollutant into species, in the North side of Oltenia, and also the especially productive species with increased resistance to diseases and fertilizer. precious genetic base of the area, which is insufficiently pests, for consumption in fresh and industrialized condition Activity of enhancing the land scraped by daily exploitation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

52 OPEN TO THE FUTURE

Roots of a European country

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

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

April 2015 e content of this material does not necessarily represent the ocial position of the European Union. It is distributed free of charge.