ANÁLISIS DE LOS RECURSOS HUMANOS DE LAS ÁREAS QUE INTERVIENEN

Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Camerino, Via Fidanza 15, 62024 Matelica (MC), Italy

Introduction

The development of traditional farming and local food processing methods in the rural Apennines, in Central Italy, could contribute to the economic growth in these areas. In recent years, demand for food and non-food products produced with sustainable production methods, particularly by organic farming (OF), has increased. Local agricultural workers and food processors have responded to this demand by producing traditional food and textile products, along with offering rural tourism either alone or integrated with traditional tourism, and by activities aimed at preserving the natural environment.

The two case histories in this paper focus on the agro-environmental economic growth possibilities by developing a wider use of organic farming methods. The first case history studies the development of organic farming in an environmentally protected area, the Monti Sibillini National Park (MSNP). The second case history analyses the natural textile production chain in the Marche, Umbria and Tuscany regions in Central Italy8.

The Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP)

A project on environmental farming in a national park is an original concept in Italy. National Parks and protected areas in the country are the result of conservation needs. The SAP is a service that the National Park Authorities offer to operators for the years 2002 to 2005 to assist the growth of rural sustainable methods and their integration with the agro-food and non-food industries, including traditionally manufactured products, tourism and other services (Renieri et al., 2001; La Manna et al., 2002; La Manna et al., 2003). Some of the problems considered in this project are environmental conservation and protection, promotion of the area and the use of human resources in traditional production methods.

On the one hand, the SAP aims to safeguard the entire environment of the Park (flora, fauna and local traditions). On the other hand, as the project developed, it was found necessary to intervene in the actual management of natural resources by creating an agricultural system with a high sustainability level that would allow growth and development in the rural marginal areas in order to raise the income of agricultural manufacturers. This latter goal was deemed necessary, as there was no overall agricultural sustainability policy in the area.

8 _{Grateful thanks for the data and the information provided with inside documents and communications are to C.A.Graziani, C.Renieri, A.Virgili,}

V.Vizioli, V.La Manna, T.Roscioni, D.Pancotto and E.Pagoni on the PAS and to M.Antonini and for the natural manufactured articles textile chain of the Consortium Arianne.

According to the intentions of the Co-ordinating group for the SAP, this project is a first step towards favouring the growth of organic farming adopted voluntarily by the producers. A further aim of the project is to create a multi-functional farm that combines several aspects of agricultural production, environmental protection offered by external agents to preserve the natural surroundings and recreational facilities to round out and promote local agricultural products and services to meet local demands.

The following are still felt to be necessary by the Co-ordinating group: - maintain the MSNP as an umbrella organisation;

- facilitate the development of a Producers Association under the aegis of the MSNP to market agricultural products;

- work towards the creation of an Organic Farming Consortium to protect their products by controlling farming methods and product source tracking.

In 2002, after a long initial management period begun in 1994, four specialised technicians put SAP methods into operation in the MSNP area. The action model for the project is based on the advice of the Co-ordination Group, the activities of the technical committee and the participation of the individuals involved and the social network. The practical instruments of the projects are meetings with various participants, “Case del Parco”, Co-operatives, local trade shows and extra- territorial events, etc. along with hard copy and computer generated informational supports. Project activities have been subdivided into general and specific areas. The former concern the joint activities of various private and public professionals in the various production sectors. The later is the pilot project for the development of highly environmentally sustainable farming practices (Table 1).

Table 1:Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP) actions

G e n e r a l • Project information

• Technical assistance to producers (“Case del Parco” informative windows) • Professional training

• Market services

Agricultural farming:

. minor cereals (spelt, bare barley, millet, “polenta” maize, durum wheat) . Leguminosae grain

. Castelluccio di Norcia lentil . lucerne and other forage farming . vegetal origin natural fibres . officinal plants

Breeding:

. swine extensive breeding (open air)

. conservation and repopulating of “fario” autochthonous trout (Salmo trutta trutta) of Appenninic stock

. exploitation of fresh and transformed sheep and goat meat S p e c i f i c Food transformation:

. exploitation of sheep and goat milk transformation

. conservation centre and genetic amplification of Sopravissana sheep breed . exploitation of honey production

. exploitation of animal origin natural fibres transformation . marketing development of wild animal meat

. development of a typical products exploitation centre in Norcia

Undoubtedly one of the principle success factors to facilitate the achievement of the stated goals is the National Park’s commitment to the preservation of its natural resources and the adoption of Organic Farming practices. The area has neither derivative pollution sources nor external pollution, as there are very few and distant industrial plants. In addition, human generated pollution is limited. In 2002, there were 16,000 residents or 22.8 inhabitants per square kilometre in this area. Furthermore, organic farming practices represent life in harmony with what the tourist expects to find in a Park of this nature. There are over 15,000 hectares set aside for semi- activity while 25,000 hectares have been designated as pasture (Table 2).

Table 2: – Protected area concerned “Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini” (From: La Manna – Pagoni - Pancotto - Roscioni 2003; http://www.sibillini.net)

Soil utilization Hectare (n.) %

Wood 26.489,96 38,13

Arable land 15.636,6 22,51

Primary or natural pastures (over 1750 m above see level) 3.321,27 4,78

Secondary pastures (1000 - 1750 m above see level) 22.244,24 32,02

Other 1.785,37 2,56

Total 69.477,44 100,00

The various townships that share in the Park’s administration cover an area larger than the protected area. According to the 2000 agricultural census data of the overall township area, there are 78,657 hectares, of which 45,495 hectares can be used for farming. In the overall area (78,657 hectares), 10.16% is certified under organic farming (13.86% of the agricultural land in the Park area). The percentage of the total organic area in the township where organic farming predominates is extremely variable and disconnected, ranging from a minimum of 1.0% to a maximum of 27.1%. The percentage of farming land is even more variable and concentrated. Land percentage, where organic farming methods predominate, ranges from 0.9% to 33.7% or on average 16.4%.

There are 2,429 farms in the Park, according to the 2000 census for the townships. Of this total, 173 practice organic crop production and 37 organic livestock production. In townships that practice organic farming, the percentage of organic vegetable farms ranges from a minimum of 0.4% to a maximum of 36.3% with an average of 10.8%. There are very few organic farms in Umbria, and they concentrated mainly in the townships of Preci and Norcia. This, according to some observers, is due to wide local promotional activities. Furthermore, limited organic farming practice on livestock farms is probably due to the recent application of animal rearing standards. Based on the results of a recent research carried out by SAP technicians, there are a total of 230 professional farms of which 55 practice organic cultivation and 15 organic livestock farms [Pancotto 2003]. The total number does not include those small farms where annual turnover does not guarantee an adequate standard of living to the farmer and the farmer’s family.

Natural textile production chain

Products in the natural textile chain (traditional, handicraft and industrial textiles) include clothing, fabrics, rugs, bedspreads, curtains, knitwear, etc. which do not use fibres containing chemical processing residue, are organic or use environmentally friendly products such as natural

vegetable dyes. From a technical point of view, textile manufacturing requires a farm–industry integration. Raw fibre can be obtained from organically managed sheep, from naturally coloured Merino fleece and other animals.

A common form of organisation is made up of the following stages (Figure 1): 1 - animal rearing

2 - fibre processing into yarn and/or textile products at small local craft mills;

3 - sale of products directly by the farm with the additional service of rural tourism or other opportunities to meet with customers such as environmental courses, weaving techniques, internet selling, etc..

Animal rearing includes selection of breeding stock aimed at improving wool quality, colour and cleanliness. Raw materials include natural animal fibres such as wool, mohair and alpaca, or vegetable fabrics such as hemp, linen and gorse along with natural plant dyes, for example the dyer’s wood Isatis tintoria (AA.VV., 1999; AA.VV., 2001).

Raw fibre processing consists in washing and spinning followed by dying with natural vegetable dyes. Wool from various local producers or that purchased on the open market may be blended together.

As far as wool production is concerned operators in this sector are sheep and goat farmers specialised in forage production, sheep and goat rearing farmers who produce wool, agro-tourist workers who sell craft products directly and sheep and goat animal rearing associations. At the present time the textile chain is a short one from farm to customer. There is no business relationship between raw fibre producers with the processors at the present time (Figure 2).

At the processing level, the individuals involved come from small-medium companies and craft work shops which do the washing, carding and spinning, textile producer associations and artistic handicraft associations for textile production and the diffusion of weaving techniques. The principle difference between local craft processing compared with industrial processing is the small amount of raw fibre handled and the use of traditional techniques by recovering and widening the professional skills in the area. The processing techniques can satisfy, with limited changes, sustainable production criteria and quality certification standards such as Eco label and brand labelling.

Finally and as far as the state of textile product distribution, these products are characterised by their local nature and the high level of production and processing sustainability.

Fig. 1- Farm operative stages organization chart

Fodder crops Wool shearing

Raw fiber selection Reproducer sale

Tranformation cicle (farm outdoor activity)

Final textile manufactured articles Pull-overs, hats, scarfs, socks

Washing, fiber addiction carding, spinning,

manufacture

Environmental education

meeting

Laboratory of craft weaving Course of technique of textile manufactured Sale show-room textile manufactured articles E-commerce of textile manufactured

AGRICULTURAL TOURISME

FIBER TRANSFORMATION

BREEDING

Fig. 2 - Organization of the stadiums of the natural textile manufactured articles chain

National origin Sheep (wool), goats (angora goats mohair),

camelidi (alpaca)

Importation Australia, New Zelanda South Africa, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, China, Turkey, India

Fiber (selection, washing carding, hair-style)

Manufacture

Spinning (yarn, tissue)

Specialized shops biological products, etc.

Sale for correspondence Rurale tourisme Farms Areas of natural interest Historical centers, museums Handicraft centers, artistic Small shops Local net of points

sale of food products and not DISTRIBUTION MANUFACTURED ARTICLES

HANDICRAFT TRANSFORMATION