“The interest is declining. Nowadays we have fewer buyers,” says Frosina who fears that if the situation with the coronavirus persists, farmers like her will be affected.
“Right now, our personal lives are more affected than the work we are doing on the farm. In the field we are in some sort of natural self-isolation. But during harvest season we rely on seasonal workers. In the long run, the limited movement of people and workforce will take its toll,” Frosina says.
Apart from being an apple farmer, Frosina is a technology engineer which specialization in soil analysis, knowledge that she utilizes on her farm and shares with her local community.
“The right timing of the activities is very important in agriculture. Right now, farmers growing early vegetables and crops are feeling more of the pressure,” she says.
As member of our partner organisation National Federation of Farmers (NFF), and coordinator of the Network of Women Farmers she is actively lobbying for farmers’ rights, especially women’s rights.
According to her, the state should introduce measures to protect the farmers who are exposed to risks, protect the domestic production and limit the imports of food products from abroad.
“We are agricultural country; we already have much of the food. We produce so many varieties of agricultural products. Our farmers shouldn’t suffer especially in times of this type of crisis,” says Frosina.