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FARMING FOR PROFIT AND LEISURE

Valentin Ciubotaru
Doctor in Agriculture
Manager of UNDP/GEF Climate Change Project
in the Republic of Moldova
Republic of Moldova,
and
NGO Bios
Republica Moldova
Paper title:FARMING FOR PROFIT AND LEISURE
clima@moldova.md
valentin@bios.moldova.su
elena@bios.moldova.su

Farming is rarely a profitable occupation from the economic viewpoint. It is professed mainly due to lack of other income generating sources or due to a tradition in the family or through inheritance of a farming company. This circumstance affects, to a great extent, the way the farming is performed today. The farmer, being in need of an income, will pick the crop for cultivation not according to his/her preferences or according to their usefulness for mankind, but taking into account the demand for the respective crop in local or regional markets, the price for products based on it, the expenses incurred for its production. As a result, the farmer confronts either fierce competition in case of a widely used crop, or the need for big promotion investment in case of an unknown or rarely used crop. In order to avoid these extremes the experience of previous generations shall be applied. In particular, in Basarabia (former name of the current Republic of Moldova) and Romania (neighbour country with common language and history) in the eighteenth century, a farm was usually middle-size (a few acres) comprising "a little of everything", i.e. grain and vineyards, vegetables and fruits, a cow and a few sheep. Although this type of farm currently seems difficult to manage, as it requires various knowledge and skills along with the facilities and equipment, it is more immune to losses, guaranteeing income in at least some area and avoiding great losses due to the possibility to use a part of the production in the household. The cattle bred in small number is not affected by diseases so frequently. Crop rotation is easy. Fertilisation with organic matter is not a problem. Such farm is friendly for wildlife and biologic diversity. On the other hand, work on such a farm is exciting both for children and grown-ups offering both profit, fresh products for the family and the opportunity to lead a healthy life in the environment natural to man. This model of farming could be studied, improved and tested practically in each region with the promotion of the most optimal size of farm, composition of crops, optimal number of cattle for a small farm. The optimal model could be successfully used both in small and big farms. For a more successful realisation of the model it could be initially be "adopted" by an industrial company using agricultural raw material. This relationship could ensure access to the farm to industry and city people, wider connections and opportunities for sales of agricultural products and better quality of life for all parties involved.