The village of Dramsha

published on 6/13/12 11:05 AM

Photo: Milka Dimitrova

The village of Dramsha is situated only 29 km away from the capital city of Sofia, but it is still a difficult job to get there, since no bus can be used and one has to rely only on the car. There are also minibuses of a private company. The road is covered with wholes, the village lacks a sewerage system and the water is not that good for drinking. The few citizens of the capital city that live full-time there after their retirement are the only ones that see the charm of the settlement that consists of 4 neighborhoods.

Mr. Dobri Todorov, who is a deputy mayor not only of Dramsha, but also of the neighboring villages of Drenovo and Ponor says that there are no young people in the village.
“A total of 74 people reside permanently here, most of them are retired and too old. There are many people, registered in Sofia, but living here. However, no young people can be seen – they cannot find any job…”

All pensioners in Dramsha survive thanks to their gardens and domestic animals – hens, rabbits, goats… Whoever feels healthier breeds a cow or two that graze the local green meadows. Pavel Galabov was born in 1931. He breeds a total of 7 cows and calves. “There were 120 houses before the WWII,” Pavel recalls. “Each of the houses used to breed farm animals – horses, cows, sheep… There were some 15,000 sheep in Dramsha only, while now it’s all dead.” The man shows the empty meadows nearby. Most of the locals do not receive any EU funding, since they breed less than 10 cows. Small farming is their way of living, they produce cheese, yellow cheese, eggs, lamb… Pavel milk his cows and sells the production to a reseller from the neighboring village of Opitsvet for the ridiculous EUR 0.23 that are not even regularly paid. “Despite all this I am happier with the fact that nature has granted me good health,” the old man says.

Pavel Galabov: There were 15 000 sheep in Dramsha in the past. Now - nothing!

Former polygraphist Dimitar Lekov breeds more animals than the rest of the people. He has lived in Dramsha with his wife – former TV editor, ever after his retirement. This is her birthplace. They have bred sheep, goats and cows for more than 10 years with the support of a EU agricultural subsidy plus some national funding per decare, since they have hired some 200 daa of meadows and grasslands. The family also receives financial support for the cattle they breed.
“We have some 120 sheep and goats, 23 milk cows, about 20 calves and a dozen small ones", Mr. Lekov explains. "Due to the crisis and the lack of market space those continue to increase in number. The subsidies we receive are not enough for anything. Last year it was all OK – we got our money. I could say I was happy, but practically this money covers only what cows, sheep and goats eat.”

The EU funding plus national payments reach EUR 15 per daa, since Dramsha is one of the so-called disadvantaged areas. According to Mr. Lekov the money does not cover its expenses and he gives the reasons why.
“The mower used to take EUR 5 per daa, now it will be no less than EUR 6, since the fuels got more expensive. The soil is not that good and a decare gives no more than 10 bales of hay. The baling cost me some EUR 0.30 per bale. Besides that I hire Roma, coming all the way from the town of Slivnitsa /some 15 km away/, since no one can be hired here, in Dramsha. They want EUR 0.30 for loading and when I pay for the transport and the truck, the EU money is over.”

Each week I have to pay additional EUR 225 for fodder, Mr. Lekov explains. The dairy farm in Opitsvet buys the milk and since his farm is a third-category one, they have no contract signed. According to Mr. Lekov that is the reason why the Milk Board /the link between milk producers and the agricultural ministry/ doesn’t receive correct information on the quantity of milk delivered. “That is why my milk quota was taken away”, the farmer explains and adds:

“Third category means that the milk doesn’t respond to the EU requirements. However, I struggle and do my best to deliver milk with 5.6 – 5.8 percentage of fat content. My milk is no worse than the one of the one or two producers with a first category for the entire region. I think that only big farms will survive after all”, Mr. Lekov foresees in conclusion.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev

По публикацията работи: Milka Dimitrova

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The village of Dramsha

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