Impact of EU harmonization on small scale agriculture The case of Romania

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Impact of EU harmonization on small scale
agriculture - The case of Romania

• Raluca Barbu
• WWF Danube Carpathian Programme Romania
• Istanbul, 20th Oct 2007

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What is small scale farming in Romania?

• Average size of farm lt 5 ha
• Number of small size farms about 4 mil
• Relative old population (50 70 years)
• 9 mil ha agriculture land (7 mil ha after the
  accession)
• rural population represents 10.245 million
  inhabitants
• 12,751 villages, which are organised
  administratively into 2,688 communes
• population density in rural area is close to 48
  inhab/sqkm,

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Low input in farming Low level of mechanization
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Small scale farming in South of Romania
Small scale farming in Low Transylvania
Small scale farming in North of Romania
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What the negotiations on agriculture brought for
farmers in Romania?

• Lots of money
• Quotes
• 1 ha minimum farm surface eligible for direct
  payments
• Hygiene regulations equally applied to
  everybody!!!
• Lots of new institutions.. bureaucracy
• Most of the process of harmonizing the
  agriculture sector with the EU requirements has
  been done with no assistance measures for
  preparing the farmers

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Small scale farmers are still struggling to work
their lands find their way on a market.
people
nature
animals
Small scale farming is not just about farming!!
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How to secure small scale farming when shepherds
are leaving?
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And the small producers are threaten by the
hygiene regulations?
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Integrated Support for High Nature Value Farming
in Romania?
SUPPORT FOR HNV FARMING COMMUNITIES? Encouragement
of Tourism Activities Conservation and Upgrading
of the Rural Heritage LAGs, Measures and
Strategies relating to HNV farming
AREA BASED PAYMENTS Natural Handicap Payments
(LFA) Natura 2000 Payments Agri-environment
Payments
Meeting standards???
SUPPORT FOR TRADITIONAL MILK PRODUCTS? Adding
Value to Traditional Agricultural Products (e.g.
processing and marketing of traditional
products)?
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SAPARD programme has been addressing the needs
of (relatively) big farms
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Small scale farming needs a lot of support
Not just from government side, but institutes,
NGOs, private initiative etc partnerships!!!
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Thank you!