Interview to the president of Homestead Association and land owners of the Crimea Sergey Turom.
HELD DOWN by ONE PURPOSE
Englishmen say that the sliding stone won’t acquire a moss, meaning, certainly, and people, and in particular, and this fidget whom it is persistent torit the farmer way.
Sergey Tur was born in the homeland of the Cossacks in Rudenko’s village of the Zaporozhye area where the nice river Dnepr flows. Probably, life in the village also defined a choice of future profession.
In 1982 it finished the Kherson agricultural institute and goes the main agriculturist to collective farm of Zhdanov. And in 1987 throws everything and with a family moves to the Crimea. And in 1994 in the service record new record – the chairman of a country farm of "Floreal", and in public work – the President of Homestead Association and land owners of the Crimea. Such is a way of the hunter, the vigorous and active leader, not indifferent to problems of peasants, farmers.
- With what Homestead Association and land owners of AR Crimea and what was its purpose for that time began?
- The association was created in 1991, then, in October, its first congress took place. Protection of the interests was a main goal: receiving earth, correct paperwork. We one of the first from a tribune called to account officials, to us began to listen. At congresses made decisions and already with them went to executive bodies. Never demanded bigger, than observance of laws. At that time the earth distributed all wishing, but the corresponding conditions weren’t created. Who couldn’t master financial and material problems, those gave up business. There were most resistant, annoying which wanted to create the stable future for itself, the family and the Crimean edge. They also became members of Association. It is said that being engaged in agriculture it is impossible to become rich, but I consider that it is possible to live in prosperity.
From Mikhail Draganchuk’s memoirs, member of Saksky Homestead Association and land owners:
- In 1991 when the first farmers not only in our area, but also in all country began to appear, before us there was an array of problems: how to receive the earth, to acquire equipment, to cooperate with various state authorities and mass of other questions. Each of us "shouted" about the problems – but nobody heard us.
Over time understood that alone the problems not to solve. And we started to create Homestead Association of the Crimea. Entered association not in order that someone something gave us and together to defend the interests. In a word, we received a tribune and we use it to the full extent.
How Association work is now organized, on what means functions?
- According to the Charter, the supreme body – congress which once a year gathers. Between congresses the coordination council which solves the main questions facing Association gathers. Between coordination councils management is carried out by the president of Association and his deputies in the person of vice-presidents. The basis of all our organization is represented by regional associations. They consist in the Crimean association which coordinates their work. Chairmen of regional associations are included into our coordination council. We live at the expense of the membership fees.
Before the accession of Ukraine to the WTO, the most important purpose – fight for sales markets. We should defend the Crimean market from "invasion" of the foreign agricultural products which prime cost is much lower. For anybody not a secret that we have rather expensive combustive-lubricating materials, SZR, a sowing material. At the same Polish farmers they aren’t cheaper, but thus they receive good grants. And the task of our association consists in carrying out "educational programs" to farmers, acquainting them with new highly profitable advanced technologies of production of agricultural products. Our farmers already went to Poland, Hungary, Moldova, the Czech Republic, studied the best practices. Our motto – To grow up that will be sold, instead of to sell that is grown up. I will give a simple example with onions. In 2003 it sold at the high price for that time of 3,2-3,4 UAH. Our experts – economists carried out monitoring of norms of seeding and it became clear that these onions it was possible to sow all Kherson area. That is our purpose to teach farmers to grow up those cultures, which are in demand and also how to make them with the smallest prime cost.
- The organization, what problems faces what difficulties to it it is necessary to solve?
- On datas of statistics, the private sector makes 98 % of potatoes, to 70 % of vegetables, and still from 50 to 60 % of meat. Besides, crediting is almost inaccessible to farmers, there is no offer of the commodity credit. Certainly, there are the leasing companies offering agricultural machinery, but leasing by much is too expensive.
Thus there is no system protection – insurance. And after all changeable Crimean weather with the strongest frosts last year and let know in the droughty summer of this year that it is time to take measures. Suffer not only agricultural producers, but also the state.
Agriculture in the Crimea very much even is hazardous – academician Pryanichnikov spoke. Every year in the Crimea the number of vacationers which it is necessary to feed, and the market at us "wild", spontaneous increases. Everyone twists the prices as will want. Somehow to order them, the Simferopol executive committee and Homestead Association and land owners of the Crimea concluded the agreement on the organization in the city of constantly operating fair which was signed by mayor Gennady Babenko. Generally farmers and could bring earlier the agricultural products on the city markets, however their attempts encountered rigid opposition from constant dealers and secondhand dealers. Fairs opened to agricultural producers an open entry on them, and to citizens gave the chance to get a crop of gardens and kitchen gardens at the low prices.
One more problem – cooperatives. Our Crimean Association constantly transfers to the government of the solution of congresses with a request to bring activity of profitless cooperatives into accord with the legislation, to avoid double taxation. And if we achieve it, to farmers it becomes much easier. Now they should hand over the same meat on 15 UAH/kg as there is no place to store it, there are no powerful refrigerators. And secondhand dealers sell it in the market already for 25-30 úÓ¡./kg. And if this farmer was the member of cooperative in which property there is the refrigerating chamber, the licensed zaboyny point, he would began to sell it to secondhand dealers? I think that isn’t present. And we would buy meat at lower prices.
Much still is the moments which at us aren’t debugged, aren’t fulfilled. It would be desirable, that there was a computer communication between all areas that information was instantly transferred.
- What gives to farmers membership in Homestead Association?
- It is a question very versatile, versatile. I think that protection of common interests, the friendly relations, the joint solution of problems. In common to be in trouble, in common to be in pleasure.
If more deeply to open this question – it and the financial relations, possibility of the organization of joint deliveries and purchases, creation of cooperatives.
- How you manage to combine work in the economy and the management of Homestead Association of the Crimea?
Probably, here plays large role that I live near to Simferopol where there is our office. By the nature of the activity I should happen in the city, to solve both public questions, and the professional. It, in a certain degree, my cross which needs to be born. There are moments when you think – what for? Then think – and who, if not you?
Other moment – needs to be looked for still the receiver that the nice history of the Crimean Association didn’t end with your leaving that could transfer public organization to the person same as you or to the best.
Elena Goryunova talked.
Photo from Association archive.
In 1997 the structure of Association included 1321 economy, the total area of the earth made 20,194 hectares.
For November, 2002 the quantity of farms increased to 1860, and the total area of the earth to 71,129 hectares, from them 43,933 hectares in continuous using and 27,196 hectares is rented.
The total area of an arable land in 1997 made 15,525 thousand hectares, and in 2002 – 66,549 thousand hectares.
In 1996 the greatest number of farms – members of Association was concentrated in the Simferopol area – 391, the Saksky area – 226 and Dzhankoysky – 122.