Summary

Balázs Berta, a graduate agricultural engineer wanted to expand his small farm of just 1.5 hectare. His plan was to use the advantages of a small farm and organic production, so he began to cultivate organic spices and vegetables.

In 2009, he received financial support from the RDP measure on support of young farmers. The grant helped him to start developing and expanding his farm and buy an additional 8.5 ha of land. The young farmer bought a line spacing cultivator, a ‘Turbocipa’ irrigation system and a suspended spice crop harvester. He also purchased a two-row disc and a garden rotovator.

Results

RDP support enabled the young farmer to establish self-sustained organic farm of 10 ha. 

The beneficiary expanded the farm’s activities to animal husbandry. Lower quality vegetables are used as animal feed and the manure from the animals becomes organic fertiliser for the crops.

Since the beneficiary started with 8 seasonal workers, in the last 2 years he was able to employ 2 permanent employees as well.

The investment set an example for other farmers in the area as he demonstrated that a small farm can produce higher value organic products other than cereals.