On 28 August in Năruja, in the mountains behind Focsani, Thomas Stauffer, Head of the Swiss Contribution Office, together with Ioan Uţiu, Secretary of State at the Ministry of the Agriculture, opened one of the six modern sheepfolds built in selected pilot areas. On this occasion also a first group of mountain farmers from Vrancea County received diplomas attesting their qualification as “Mountain shepherds”.
This is part of the broader project “Sustainable Agriculture Models in Romanian Mountains” which aims at improving the sustainability of livestock based agriculture by ensuring sustainable and environmentally sound management pastures, modernised cheese making, as well as improved traditional production and a better marketing for the final products.
The project is carried out by the Swiss Center for Mountain Regions (SAB), the Mountain Farmers Federation Dorna (FAMD) and other Romanian associations acting in the field. The total value of the project is of 1’321’714 CHF, foreseen for a period of 3 years (2014 -2016).