Community cooperation needed for the rebirth of Şiclod
The tradition of fruit cultivation and the rebirth of the local orchards were the central topics of the second Together for Şiclod! professional meeting organized by DAHR MEP Csaba Sógor, the Siklód Association and the local administration of Atid.
Şiclod is a typically Szekler village from Harghita county with a valuable architectural heritage. “This town has many values that could be exploited to ensure a livelihood for the people. It could attract tourists, but community level cooperation is needed for that” – said Csaba Sógor, holding that every meeting of this kind would lead to new ideas and that, as long as there is will, there will be help and support, too, for the inhabitants of Șiclod.
The MEP invited experts in fruit cultivation to the professional meeting. The town’s orchards once known for their rich harvests stand abandoned today.
Márton Szávai from neighbouring Inlãceni has sixty years of experience in fruit growing. He is an expert in fruit breeding and in indigenous species of fruit. In his presentation he assessed the situation of the local orchards and assured the citizens of the town of his professional support in the revival process.
György Elekes is an engineer from Hungary, who bought a property in Șiclod some years ago and has made a few attempts to give new life to the orchards. In his presentation he underlined the importance of community level cooperation, presenting similar examples from Hungary.
Mónika Pakot, employee of the Civitas Foundation and expert in community and regional development presented the project called Fruits of our Heritage. She stressed that the revival of the orchards has an economic and a moral value and that the foundation supports rural communities in such endeavours. The foundation offers help in the processing and commercialisation of fruit, organises professional trainings and ensures promotion through the Fruit Festival of Odorheiu-Secuiesc. The uniqueness of this festival is that it only allows fruit producing communities to participate, not single producers, thus encouraging community level cooperation. Mónika Pakot also presented co-funding opportunities for orchard planting.
Levente Sándor brought a good example from the neighbouring village, Forțeni: the community of his village joined the project of the Civitas Foundation and they are now on the way to ensuring their livelihoods from the orchards.
Also present at the meeting was László Szőcs, mayor of the commune of Atid, who talked about exploiting the possibilities offered by tourism. He presented the Straw Hat Museum village and the project for building a tourist route around the so-called “mass graves” (geographical formations) in the village of Crișeni. The mayor pointed out that asphalting the 8 km road between Atid and Șiclod is a priority, as this would make the village more accessible for tourists.
Csaba Sógor expressed his wish to continue the series of these professional meetings. “We do not want to enforce our views on the people of this town. We are simply trying to point out opportunities. The inhabitants need to come up with their own ideas and organise themselves. We meet here from time to time to show the people they can count on our support. The projects in Inlãceni, Crișeni or Forțeni started as a strong civil initiative, with the help of the local and county administration and the help of sister villages. The people of Șiclod have on who to count, too”- concluded MEP Sógor.
The MEP invited experts in fruit cultivation to the professional meeting. The town’s orchards once known for their rich harvests stand abandoned today.
Márton Szávai from neighbouring Inlãceni has sixty years of experience in fruit growing. He is an expert in fruit breeding and in indigenous species of fruit. In his presentation he assessed the situation of the local orchards and assured the citizens of the town of his professional support in the revival process.
György Elekes is an engineer from Hungary, who bought a property in Șiclod some years ago and has made a few attempts to give new life to the orchards. In his presentation he underlined the importance of community level cooperation, presenting similar examples from Hungary.
Mónika Pakot, employee of the Civitas Foundation and expert in community and regional development presented the project called Fruits of our Heritage. She stressed that the revival of the orchards has an economic and a moral value and that the foundation supports rural communities in such endeavours. The foundation offers help in the processing and commercialisation of fruit, organises professional trainings and ensures promotion through the Fruit Festival of Odorheiu-Secuiesc. The uniqueness of this festival is that it only allows fruit producing communities to participate, not single producers, thus encouraging community level cooperation. Mónika Pakot also presented co-funding opportunities for orchard planting.
Levente Sándor brought a good example from the neighbouring village, Forțeni: the community of his village joined the project of the Civitas Foundation and they are now on the way to ensuring their livelihoods from the orchards.
Also present at the meeting was László Szőcs, mayor of the commune of Atid, who talked about exploiting the possibilities offered by tourism. He presented the Straw Hat Museum village and the project for building a tourist route around the so-called “mass graves” (geographical formations) in the village of Crișeni. The mayor pointed out that asphalting the 8 km road between Atid and Șiclod is a priority, as this would make the village more accessible for tourists.
Csaba Sógor expressed his wish to continue the series of these professional meetings. “We do not want to enforce our views on the people of this town. We are simply trying to point out opportunities. The inhabitants need to come up with their own ideas and organise themselves. We meet here from time to time to show the people they can count on our support. The projects in Inlãceni, Crișeni or Forțeni started as a strong civil initiative, with the help of the local and county administration and the help of sister villages. The people of Șiclod have on who to count, too”- concluded MEP Sógor.
