The last technical visit to the project farmers in the areas of Zaragoza and Navarra

On September 15th, the last monitoring visit was made to the participating project farmers in the area of Zaragoza and Navarra. Jose Luis Caudevilla (Transati), technician in charge of that area and Marisa Gandia (Transfer) have visited different farmers who have participated on the project, in order to know their general impressions about the project concept and their perception of these last five years. The main issues that have been raised during the visits were the good impession of having technical assistance to resolve diverse crop problems and the attemtion about the increase demand of organic products in the market. In general, and their overall satisfaction according to the project.

The first meeting was held to Fernando Escribano, farmer and mayor of Municipality of Berdejo. Given his great interest in promoting organic farming, Mr. Escribano explained his long career of over ten years in organic farming, and specifically on the area that has been provided for the project. He stated that this land will continue performing organic farming and he will use all knowledge learned throughout the years into practice by raising-awareness along the local farmers. Project results are of great interest in order to create future jobs in the village by demonstrating the implementation of intercropping, weed management control, biofertilization and the protein quality of the crops.
 

A Thereafter, the team visited Isidro Cortes in Ejea de los Caballeros, who explained the harvesting results of this campaing and expressed his willing to continue with the agricultural practices implemented during this project. He realized of the positive change in soil recovery and the decrease in production costs (especially consumables). He is convinced in turning more hectares under his management into organic farming.

Finally, the project team organized a meeting in Falces (Navarra) with Placido Taínta and Jezus Aranda. Both farmers have expressed their concern of their inability to adjust to the crop rotation plans during these years of project, since they share communal plots where parts of the year are assigned to shepherds. Therefore they cannot carry out all the tasks that were planned. However, they are very gratified with the use of the flexible harrowing obteined during the project to weed control.

To all the farmers we visited, we handed out a series of Layman´s Report and Guide Booklets, in gratitude for their participation and for them to share and disseminate the project results among their neighbors and acquaintances.