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Investments Work Better if Backed-up by Knowledge Transfer Networks

World Bank/Romanian Ministry of Waters and Forests

By IW:LEARN

August 30^th, 2019

Preserving freshwater by decreasing the nutrient pollution from agricultural sources is the core objective of the Integrated Nutrient Pollution Control Project (INPCP), a project implemented by the Ministry of Waters and Forests (MWF) in Romania and financed through a World Bank loan.

Communal manure management platforms are a viable solution in Romania’s rural context, considering that around 3 million small farms/households cannot properly store the manure produced. But creating the right infrastructure does not necessarily solve the problem of nitrate pollution. Changing the farmers’ mindset, best illustrated by the phrase heard over and over from householders:

“my grandparents had no problem in storing the manure directly on the ground”,

can become a greater challenge. Therefore, a Farmers’ Discussions Groups network was started, where knowledge is transferred from Champion farmers to householders and small farmers. During this meetings, the farmers were encouraged to share personal opinions and ideas. Here is an example of what a young farmer says, an interview recorded by Prof. PhD Cătălin GALAN.

Informing the young farmers ensures a better future

Mr. Pavel Nicușor. Credit: Cătălin Galan

If you are traveling to the “sweet town of Iasi”and you go South about 23 km from the city and 16 km from Lunca Cetăţuii, the hilly road takes you to Grajduri. Grajduri is a rich commune, surrounded by emerald green meadows, just like one of Grigorescu’s paintings. People here are animal raisers, especially cows, sheep and horses. From the group of farmers present at the meeting, a young one stands out of the crowd. He has the looks of a “rural hipster”. Pavel Nicușor is a jovial young man, so the dialogue starts on the spot:

How did you find out about this farmers’ meeting?

“A friend of mine told me that there is a meeting at the Town Hall with some people from Bucharest, regarding nutrient pollution problems, and the subject interested me. My family owns a small mixed farm, meaning we have three milk cows, two heifer and a small vegetable garden, that we are trying to keep as organic as possible. Since we only use organic fertilizers, it is important for us to know how to correctly use the compost in the garden, so that we do not endanger our health or the health of our clients”.

So, after this meeting did you manage to clarify the way you should use compost in the garden?

“Sure. I knew many of the rules from the Code of Good Agricultural Practices. What I didn’t know was the magnitude of the nitrate pollution phenomenon and the effects of this pollution. For example, I wasn’t aware that the nutrients are not neutralized by boiling the water!”

Where do you sell your products?

“We have clients from the city of Iasi and the surroundings, that call us and order by phone, once or twice a week - milk, cheese and fresh vegetables. Being a family business, we also deliver. The business just started, but we have high hopes that we can extend, because of the high demands on the organic products market”.

Pavel, if you’d have the occasion to meet some policy and decision makers from the nutrient pollution field, what question would you have them answer?

“As I understood from today’s discussions, the nutrient water pollution control is a long-term process, with results that are visible in time. Therefore, I think I’d ask them why they don’t do more information sessions in schools, high-schools and colleges? Educating the young generations clearly ensures a better future for all of us. I appreciate today’s meeting, but I think that the young people should be much more involved and informed about what they should do, in order to preserve the freshwater from nutrient pollution”.