The method Romanian farmers have found to get rid of pests without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides
Inspired by farmers in Europe, some of the farmers fight pests by natural methods and thus avoid the use of pesticides. So, they use ducks, frogs, hedgehogs and ladybugs as guardians of their gardens.
In the end, everyone is happy, and vegetables and fruits do not contain chemicals. Admittedly, they’re more expensive.
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Ruxandra Brad is a permaculture designer and advises her clients on how to get a beautiful crop without pesticides. She is now testing a family of Indian running ducks that hunt limes.
The three birds can clean up one hectare by themselves, on one condition: not to be moved from there.
Ruxandra Brad, Permaculture Designer: "They’re doing their job, I just have to close their coop in the evening and to open it in the morning. I can leave and they’re doing the job. Whereas if you tried to use a chemical molluscocid, then you would harm your health, that of your children and neighbours".
An Indian running duckling costs around 50 lei, and an adult bird costs 150 lei. The species is very widespread in farms in the UK, Bulgaria, Germany and the Nordic countries.
On a 3-hectare farm in Vlădeni, Dâmboviţa, pests are controlled with the help of other creatures.
Among the rows of zucchini there are also ladybugs, which feed on plant lice.
Ionuț Bădica: "We don’t use synthetic chemicals; we only use natural solutions. We are spraying bacteria and fungi, with all sorts of solutions that are widespread in 2024".
Some straw bales mixed with Pleurotus mushrooms and manure feed and disinfect the soil.
The number of farmers practicing organic farming is increasing. Now, more than 13,000 operators grow around 650,000 hectares without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Their products are 25% more expensive than those from conventional agriculture.
