Observed Portraits, 3rd prize
Transylvania: Built on Grass
Rena Effendi
INSTITUTE for National Geographic magazine
INSTITUTE for National Geographic magazine
20 June, 2012
In Transylvania and other remote areas of Romania, many people farm on a small scale, in ways unchanged for centuries.
Rena Effendi
Rena Effendi was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, and grew up in the USSR, witnessing her country’s path to independence—one marred by war, political instability, and economic collapse....
The Borca family, from the village of Breb, put finishing touches to one of the 40 or so haystacks they make each summer.
In Transylvania and other remote areas of Romania, many people farm on a small scale, in ways unchanged for centuries. Their farms have among the lowest yields in Europe, but also some of the highest levels of self-sufficiency. Lack of money and suspicion of unfamiliar methods mean that few chemicals and artificial fertilizers are used.
Farming families can expect an income of around €4,000 a year, often supplemented with earnings from other sources. Many are abandoning their farms for at least part of the year to work in cities abroad. Romania’s 2007 entry into the European Union also threatens this traditional way of life, as farmers cannot compete with European imports, and the small size of farms means they are not eligible for EU subsidies.
The Develop programs include the 6x6 Global Talent Program, the African Photojournalism Database, and the Joop Swart Masterclass.
Explore is our debate and research program for investigating the important issues facing our community of professionals and the public.