During 20-21st October took place at Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine University Hall IN Cluj Napoca the 8th Organic Farmers of Romania Conference, with the topic: Organic agriculture in Romania – evolution, present and perspectives and Bioterra Association at 10 years of fruitfull activity in organic agriculture promote.
At event took part 300 participants from country and abroad: scientists from central institution, research stations, processors and traders, students - general, masters and doctorate, instructors and journalists.
The Conference is open by Bioterra’s president prof. univ. dr. Cornel Man, who invite the guest from country and abroad to make a speech for the participants: Agricultural Ministry delegates (Teodor Mihalcea), National Agency for Agricultural Advisory delegate (director Gheorghe Reman), County Office for Agricultural Advisory delegate (Ioan Merca), Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine University Cluj delegate (RECTOR Liviu Marghitas), Organic Agricultural National Federation (eng. Ion Toncea), delegates form the organic agriculture associations/ institutes from country and abroad (Hungary, Moldavia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Switzerland, Holland, Italy, Germany, Latvia).
Findings from the ideas presented in the framework of the conference:
From the General Direction Agricultural Politics Implementation, from Agricultural, Forest and Rural Development Ministry, participated the General Director Mr. Teodor Mihalcea who presented „Perspectives regarding the financial support of the organic farmers during 2007-2013”. He presented the actual context from Romania, the legislation and the financial support perspectives for 2008-2013, period when because of the European Union adhering, Romania need to be in line with the European request in to the organic agriculture sector. Mr. Mihalcea said that the organic agriculture represent an esential element on the way of environment protection, throught soil preservation, improuving the air and water quality, increase the biodiversity and nature protection. The main objective of the European agricultural politic, is represented by the promote of a rural viable economy. Organic agriculture contribute to the accomplishment of this objectiv, by increasing the economical activities, with an important value, with a large intensity of workforce occupation in rural areas and with the increase of the interest for the rural space. Also, he declaired that the activity developed by Bioterra Association is place on the agenda of the Agricultural Ministry efforts for adhere at the European Union, having an esential contribution in organic agriculture promote in Romania.
Monika Schneider from FiBL present the organisation she represent and „Organic products market development. Challenge for the organic sector in Romania”. Among the topics she present as beeng necessary for a good development of the organic agriculture we notice: products quality, informing and training the farmers, advisory services, researche programs, co-operation and partnerships, using diffrent market chanels. Monika Schneider specify that one of the Romanian market challenge is informing the consumers, traders and importers about the organic products. Another challenge are the inspection and certification bodies, comunications tools,umbrella organisations. Also she specify the importance of the gouvernment support through setting up a legislative frame which to support the organic agriculture, organise an open system for organic education, support the research in organic agriculture sector.
Mrs. eng. Teodora Aldescu, mandatory from Agricultural and Rural Development Ministry, present the situation of the organic agriculture in Romania, the legislation, Inspection and Certification Bodies approved in the country and the Evolution of the organic agriculture in Romania The number of the operators on counties in 2007, the cultivated surfaces in organic agriculture and the cultures structure in organic agriculture. In continuation she present the European Agricultural Found for Rural Development (financing tools of the EU) and the National Program for Rural Development (2007-2013). The mostimportant in this program are the following topics: Increasing the agricultural and forestry sectors competitivity and Improuving the environment and the rural areas – in which is enclose the organic agriculture as an action field. Another subject of great importance which she present was the yearly compensatory payments for: conversion from the conventional agriculture to organic agriculture and maintaining the the certificated organic production.
Prof. dr. Gheorghe Sin, mandatory from Agricultural and Forestry Science Academy Bucharest present “Present preoccupations of the scientific research for developing the organic agriculture”. He said that the promotion of ecological agriculture makes necessary both the elucidation of its numerous specific aspects and the drawing up of new methods and products which should replace the common polluting practices. He present the fields in which are made research offering examples for vegetal culture, animals breeding and horticulture. „Being sure that there is a future for the biological agriculture we are obliged to militate for the development and implementation of the ecological concept for a sustainable conservation of the natural resources which ensure healthy agro food products.”
From Agrochemical, Ecology and Plants Protection Direction from Moldavia Republic, Mr. Iurie Senic presented “Important accomplishments in promoting agricultural politics in Moldavia Republic regarding the development of the organic agriculture”. Stimulated by the legislative frame created by the Moldavian government, the interest of the organic farmers and traders for organic agriculture is increasing. For promote organic agriculture, make the inspection and certification services and implement the conversion period at organic agriculture was founded the National Organism for Inspection and Certification of the organic production. Iurie Senic specify the necesity of the scientific programs financed and implemented by govenment, to familiarize the farmers with the production development and certification systems for export and creating international marketing chaines towards the European Union markets.
From Latvia Dace Piliksere and Livija Zarina attend the Conference. Dace Piliksere presented the organic agriculture from Latvia, the steps which were made in order to realise the proposed objectives and measures took by guvernment for sustain thenational organic agriculture.
Vasyl Pyndus from Ukraine presented the organisation “BIOLan Ukraine” which serve the organic producers, processors and consumers intrests in Ukraine. The Goal of the Association is promotion and support of the organic agriculture in Ukraine. The Association «BIOLan Ukraine» elaborated the first Organic Standards in Ukraine and is one of the sub founders of the first Ukrainian Certification Body “Organic Standard”. Also she present important dates about the evolution of the organic agriculture in Ukraine, the action plan, subsidizes give to the farmers in conversion period.
From Biokultura Association founded in 1983 in Hungary spoke dr. Solti Gabor, he said that the association took the responsibility to support the organic organisations from the neighbours countries, respectively the groups which want to make local organisations of the association. With Bioterra Association we have a very good working relation since at the beginning. Each year the Foundation take part to the Bioterra Conference which offer a well opportunity for meet the delegates from the local groups, associations involve in organic agriculture and bio farmers.
Zuzana Lehocka from Slovak Republic present the organic agriculture from her country. The development of organic farming in the Slovak Republic began in 1991 following the experience and development trends in western European countries. This area represented 5.81 % of all farmland in the Slovak Republic. She offer examples of proposed financial support for organic agriculture, strong points and opportunities for organic farming from Slovakia on national and abroad market.
Wijnand Sukkel from Wageningen University from Holland presented the government objectives for organic agriculture and the Holland politic for accomplish them, statistics related to the organic agriculture – 48.000 ha crop area in organic system (=2,5 % from the total surface) from which 65% pastures, 1450 farmers. He engrosses attention over the importance of the research in organic agriculture and the importance of the information spreading.
Radu Panait and Mihai Grigoras presented trading opportunities for organic products on the national and international market. Radu Panait engrosses attention in a special way over the importance of the association between organic farmers and over the honesty in business. They encourage the present farmers showing the international situation for organic products demand which is increasing day by day.
After the plenary debates took place discussions in the frame of the workshops and the approached topics are:
– section 1: Specific problems of the organic vegetal cultures ;
– section 2: Specific problem in the organic system for animals breeding ;
– section 3: Specific problem in the organic system for beekeepers .
On the second day of the conference a presentation of the discussions and conclusions of the three workshops was offered by the moderators. Likewise, some solutions were proposed to develop the organic agriculture in Romania.
In the frame work of the first section the the raising matters were: subsidy legislation, the standards for subsidies grant should be state at national level, over the politic, the subsidies should be at European countries level; the imputs from a Romanian farm because of the intermediaries. The present farmers show information from their own experience, and the workshops co-ordinators come with proposals and solutions for the probelm they face. Also was proposed to sent a petition to the Agricultural and Rural Development Ministry. The treatments represent the most sensitive subject in beekeeping sector, it is necesary to have knowledge – both for product which can be use and for the usage methods.
In the frame work of the section dedicated to the animals breeding was illustrated the importance of the hygiene and welfare in zoo technical farms for obtaining a high quality for the products, and 3 of the attending farmers, illustrate their own experience. Were discussed problems related of the diseases prevent and treatment in organic animal breeding. The present farmers drew the attention to exercise political lobbying in regard to Romanian producers protection by allowing subsidizes to organic farmers.
The third workshop conclusions showed the necesity of a strategy for the organic beekeeping succes, strategy which sould include:
- financial support (in a certain measure) for the organic beekeepers,
- development posibilities for apiaries,
- speciality advisory
- valuation market for organic bee products
The main objective of the Conference for the Bioterra members and all the participants was to provide information on the follows topics:
o Production methods
o The valuation of the obtaining bee products
- Organic methods for improving the animal production :
o Alimentation
o Hygiene
o Shelter
o Prevent and cure the diseases
- Agricultural cultures with a large request on the organic market
o Tendencies on the vegetal products market
o Culture methods with high productivity
o Use products for plants’ protection and the increase of the productivity in organic system
- Organic products marketing
o How to sell organic products
o National and international market tendency in organic products field
In this sense we can note the fact that this topic which was presented is very relevant and very interesting, and the Conference objective was entirely realised. The discussions raised the awareness of the difficulty connected with the practice of the organic agriculture, and as well as gave some solutions to solve of the present problems
The work of the 8th Organic Farmers of Romania Conference has been an event of exceptional importance, reflected by the attention of the written and audio press of country. The press coverage has also contributed to the popularization of organic agriculture methods.
During the last portion of the Conference Bioterra’s achievements of the past year were highlighted and give for approval: The Activities report for November 2006-September 2007, The Activities plan for 2008 and the financial report. Bioterra members approved them in unanimity.
With such a large number of participants present the Conference represented a real opportunity to spread information related to organic agriculture and to enhance the reputation of this system in country.
The main objective of the Association is to promote organic agriculture in Romania. Bioterra proposes to continue the activities that have a positive impact in accomplishing this aspiration including: seminars, round tables, trainings, establishing demonstrative plots and study visits, participation in exhibitions in country and abroad, and to continue the tradition of organizing the national conferences.
At the end of the Conference the President and the Executive Director of the Association thanked all the participants and Bioterra members and reminded everyone of the generous support of FiBL acting as intermediary for the financial support provided by the Stat Secretary for Economical Affaires, SECO, Switzerland for the organization of this prestigious event. |
