Girona’s agriculture “is in danger”. The lack of generational relief has led the sector to a “worrying” situation that puts the continuity of the profession in the demarcation at risk. From the Associació pel Desenvolupament Rural i Agrari (Adrinoc) they warn that this situation has lasted for years and that it is necessary to find a solution because “you cannot live without farmers”.
The manager of Adrinoc, Jordi Terrades, points out that they are creating a local network to find formulas to support people who do not come from an agricultural tradition and who want to dedicate themselves to it. “We need new policies focused on making agriculture more attractive and viable. We are in a moment of real need.” These are the words of Neus Monllor, an agrosocial consultant and expert in agricultural relief in the Girona region.
The aging of the sector in the demarcation is not exceptional and, in fact, it is a Catalan, state and European problem. The reality is that farms have difficulties moving forward and this has changed the traditional model, which passed from father to son.
Many owners of agricultural or livestock farms recommend that their children look for other professional projects due to the difficulties involved in starting a business. Monllor points out that the key is to make the profession “attractive and above all visible”.
One of the formulas they propose is to bet on reducing bureaucracy and helping new farmers to have an “easier” incorporation into the sector. With help to avoid having to make large investments of money that involve many years of debt. However, for this to be possible, it is necessary for all the administrations to go hand in hand and for it to be a “country bet”.
One of the entities that is betting on finding solutions is Adrinoc, which has created a local network that wants to facilitate access to agriculture for people who have never dedicated it and who do not come from a rural tradition. Adrinoc’s manager, Jordi Terrades, points out that sometimes the difficulties in accessing the land are “important”.
Through this network, it is intended to support these people who want to move forward with a project, but who do not have the resources to start the activity with all the guarantees. In addition, from the entity they warn that there are many people who are about to stop working in the world of agriculture that “is invisible”.
“What we want is to offer these people who finish the activity in the coming years a way to pass it on to the new generations who can continue with guarantees,” Terrades remarks.
One of the key elements to be able to continue with the generational change in the world of agriculture is training. As the traditional model from parents to children has changed, for those who want to dedicate themselves to agriculture without having experience or tradition, training has become a determining element in order to ensure the future.
A good example is that of Jalil Macià, a 16-year-old boy whose family has no agricultural tradition and who dreams of having his own farm. He explains that he has always wanted to work as a farmer, which is something he is passionate about, although he is aware of the difficulties of running the business.
Jalil is currently finishing an intermediate degree in Agriculture at the INS la Garrotxa in Olot and a few days a week he practices on a farm in Santa Pau. He is convinced that when he gets out of there he will be able to dedicate himself to being a farmer as he has always wanted.
On the other hand, Albert Folguera, the head of the area of ??the degree that Jalil studies, explains that 85% of the students who study end up working, which shows that it is a profession with a future. “We need farmers and there is work, but we have to make it easier, more attractive and accessible”, he remarks.
