The link between agriculture and local communities from Banat – a Review

Banat was the first Western Romanian region where towns and villages had straight streets, the church, the school and the town hall in the centre and a clear delineation of the perimeter of the town or village, with its surrounding agricultural fields. Part of the data in this paper comes from the Transylvanian Rare Breeds Association’s database. Banat has been a model of regional development and of interethnic communities ever since 1716. The rural households in Banat have two or three yards and this model can be found in Central Europe as well. Owners in Banat preferred to take care of their animals themselves to watch over them carefully. On the borderline with Hungary, in Arad County, there is a totally different type of agriculture, namely one based on the existence of these types of shelters. At the shelter people raised cows, sheep, horses, chicken, geese, pigeons and beehives. All the field work was done according to a calendar which took into consideration religious holidays as well as certain days which were known to be significant. Old shelter is a model for organic farm. The only chance European agriculture has got is quality, and that goes also for Romanian agriculture, especially the one in Western of Romania. In Romania, the existence of modern farms is being encouraged, which have to have modern shelters, equipment and machines to be used on large areas. The erosion of the zoo-genetic patrimony in Western of Romania is obvious. Local breeds are being replaced with better imported ones but these have to be very well taken care of in order to reach their genetic potential. Banat was once renowned for its farms for processing animal products. In 2011 there are some units of processing animal and vegetable products in Banat, but these belong almost entirely to some transnational companies. Rich pastures and skilled locals have led to raising pure blood animals. Banat is an excellent region for crops and for raising animal due to its rich pastures, its geographical layout, the plain field and the water routes that can easily reach the Danube.