The potential for traditional food and drink products in Eastern Europe: Fruit processing — especially brandy (“tuica”) distilling —in Romania
The traditional peasant way of life has involved the maximum use of local resources for subsistence with a surplus for commercial activity where local supplies and market conditions allow. In the Subcarpathian region of Romania fruit constitute a major resource and plums have been valued for their usefulness in supplying jam, dried fruit and brandy. The latter product (“tuica”) is still finding a considerable commercial outlet despite the competition from urban-based distilleries and from imported spirits. Despite the discouragement of distilling in rural areas under communism (especially in areas that were collectivised) there are good opportunities today in the context of farm diversification and pluriactivity which is crucial for the survival of small farms in the hill regions of the country. The paper outlines the ways in which plums may be valorised, examines the particular significance of plum brandy and considers the potential for future expansion.
Prospects for Vrancea: A traditional mountain community in Romania
The privatisation of Romanian agriculture will provide new opportunities for the peasantry and even in the mountains where collectivisation remained incomplete there will be the stimulus of a free market. This article examines the physical and cultural landscapes of a small Carpathian district and shows how a traditional economy, which maintained much of its integrity under communism, now looks with guarded optimism towards an uncertain future. Agriculture remains fundamental with ecological as well as economic dimensions (for the terrain is highly unstable) but the potential for small businesses and local services, neglected in the past, must also be realised.
Effect of cutting management and nitrogen levels on biomass production and proximate quality of barley (Hordeum vulgare) in saline soil
A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 1997–1998 to 1999–2000 on an alluvial loamy sand saline soil at Hisar, to find out the effect of cutting management and nitrogen levels on biomass production and proximate quality of barley (Hordeum vulgare L). Dry forage yield of barley was 6.3% higher when harvested once at 50% heading compared with 2 cuttings at 60 days of growth and 50% heading. The total biomass was 3.8% higher when harvested for grain purpose compared to the treatment in which the crop was first harvested for forage at 60 days and subsequently left for grain purpose. However, no significant differences were observed in the yield equivalents of barley grown for grain purpose or green forage and grain. Application of N significantly increased the yield from 22.5 q/ha with 60 kg N/ha to 29.3 q/ha with 80 kg N/ha. The protein and mineral matter contents were higher in grains (9.2 and 4.7%) and fodder (5.3 and 10.3%) harvested at the early stages than 9.0 and 4.6% in grain; and 4.9 and 9.8% in fodder at the late stage. However, the fibre and lignin contents were more in fodder harvested at later stages. With increasing levels of N application, the mineral matter remained unaffected, while the crude protein and lignin contents increased and fibre decreased in both fodder as well as grain.