young peoples' exposure to farming in western ...

Scientific Papers Series Management , Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development Vol.11, Issue 3, 2011 ISSN 1844-5640

YOUNG PEOPLES’ EXPOSURE TO FARMING IN WESTERN EUROPE: A MEANS FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN ROMANIA? Ove MADSEN1, Gina FINTINERU2 1

Grindsted Agricultural College, 40 Tronsø Parkvej, 7200 Grindsted, Denmark, Phone +45 2167 2027, email: [email protected] 2 University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Management, 59 Marasti Bd, sector 1, code zip 011464, Bucharest, Romania, Phone: +40-21-3180465, email: [email protected] Abstract: Many young Romanians travel to Western Europe in order to get new experiences and in order to earn money. Potentially, returning migrants might spark new development in rural areas in Romania. The paper examines, whether there are indications that this is already now taking place, or is likely to happen in the future for young Romanians, who have gone to Denmark in order to pursue an agricultural education and work on farms in Denmark. Upon arrival in Denmark, expectations and hopes of young Romanians is that someday they will be able to return to Romania – preferably to their village/town/region of origin. Evidence is that many migrants, after spending a limited period of time in Denmark, return to Romania, utilise the experience from Denmark in developing occupational career in Romania, but very few decide to start new activities in rural areas. Key words: returning migrants, rural development, agricultural education, Denmark

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INTRODUCTION Increasingly, young Romanians migrate to Western Europe looking for a better life. UK and to some extent also Ireland seems to be the preferred recipient countries, but a sizeable number of young Romanians also migrate to other Western European countries, including Denmark. Potentially, such migration could be devastating for sending communities: namely to the extent that virtually all young people, and especially the skilled part of the population leave the village in order to live in towns or in Western European countries, so that only the old, the weak and possibly also the children are left behind. On the other hand there is ample evidence that migration in many cases have a number of positive effects, which will tend to stimulate economic development in sending communities. Katseli et al. (2006) provide an overview of some of these [1]: - Financial remittances; - In the short run, migration creates benefits for sending societies in terms of better employment opportunities for low skilled workers;

In the medium to long term benefits for sending societies are expected via enhanced productivity, caused by technological change, productive restructuring, internal labour mobility or skill accumulation; - People, who return to their native countries, often put to profitable use the entrepreneurial, organizational and managerial skills, which they have acquired abroad, or invest their savings in profitable activities in the retail or service sector. Furthermore, migration tend to have positive effects for sending communities in terms of what could be named “social remittances”: ideas, practises, identities and social capital flow back to sending communities [3]. The above outlined evidence paints “the big picture”, the evidence on the global scale. It remains unclear, whether such positive effects are applicable also in the Romanian context. The purpose of the present paper is to examine, whether there are indications that such positive long term effects are applicable for Romanian rural communities, which send young people to work/study in Western Europe, in casu: Denmark. MATERIAL AND METHOD 1


Data from Statistics Denmark [4] were analysed in order to estimate the number of young Romanians presently working/studying in the agricultural sector in Denmark. Expectations and attitudes of young Romanians, who have recently arrived in Denmark, were documented. 37 students filled in questionnaires, which were constructed so as to support or to reject the following hypothesis: Young Romanian citizens, who temporarily work in the farming sector in Denmark, contribute, or will at a later stage, contribute positively towards the further development of the community, which they came from. Findings were examined in further detail via a focus group discussion with 7 respondents, 5 male and 2 female. Feed back from young Romanians, who came to Denmark 5 – 7 years ago, was analysed in order to assess whether migrants still live in Denmark or if they have now returned to Romania. And for those, who returned to Romania: what are they doing now? Finally results are discussed seen in the light of the current situation of sending communities (rural villages in Romania). RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Romanians citizens working/studying in the farming sector in Denmark Data from Statistics Denmark show that a total of 7961 Romanian citizens were resident in Denmark on 1 Jan 2011. Up to 2006, not very many Romanian citizens lived in Denmark, but starting approximately 2007, increasingly, Romanian citizens have decided to migrate to Denmark (chart 1). Chart 1: Romanian citizens migrating to/from Denmark

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2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0

Immigration to Denmark Emigration from Denmark

Reasons for the rapid increase in immigration from Romania to Denmark are not fully understood, but contributing reasons might be: - The last couple of years before the financial crises (approx, Oct. 2008) it was very easy for Romanian citizens to get a work permit, simply because there was such a desperate need for workers at all levels in Denmark during these years. - From May 2009, citizens from all EU countries are free to apply for jobs in Denmark, also in cases where qualified Danish nationals are available. No work permit is required. Typically, the immigrants are between 20 and 30 years of age. 98% come directly from Romania, 2 % from a different country. 60% are male, 40% female. Unfortunately there is no statistical evidence concerning the educational background of immigrants. The number of Romanian citizens, who leave Denmark is quite small at present. This is quite natural taking into account that migration from Romania to Denmark on a larger scale is a relatively new phenomena. It remains to be seen to what extent there will in the future be a larger “backflow” of Romanian citizens, bringing their new competences back to Romania. In 2010, 78 % of the Romanian citizens, who left Denmark went back to Romania. 22% went to a different country. Until May 2009, Romanian citizens needed a work permit in order to study/work in Denmark. Chart 2 shows the number of work permits issued (2003 – 2008) [5] .


No job available in Romania

Chart 2: Work permits issued to Romanian citizens (work/study agriculture)

400

In order to earn money

300 200

In order to learn more Other reason

100 0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Number of work permits for Romanians working in/studying agriculture increased considerably from 2003 to 2008 – albeit with a small decrease in 2008. For 2009 and 2010 no such information is available, because Romanian citizens are now free to work in Denmark without a work permit. If the general picture (table 1) is also valid for migrants, who work in agriculture, it must, however, be assumed that at present there are several hundred Romanian citizens working studying agriculture in Denmark. Expectations and attitudes upon arrival to Denmark. The 37 respondents arrived in Denmark late January 2011 in order to attend basic agricultural training at Grindsted Agricultural College. When the survey was performed they had stayed in Denmark for approx. 2 months. The overall profile of respondents are more or less the same as what is the case for all Ro immigrants to Denmark: average age was 24 years (between 19 and 30), 29 male, 8 female. Previous education: 8 were primary school leavers, 29 had further education of some kind (College, University or similar). Chart 3 shows respondents’ motivation for migrating to Denmark. The number of replies exceeds the number of respondents, because some respondents ticked more than one reason. The most important “pulling factors” are: possibility for earning money and opportunity to learn more.

During the focus group discussion, we discussed the question: “Why Denmark”. In nearly all cases the reason given was: “because I have friends, who are, or have been, studying/working in Denmark”. Chart 4 shows expectations regarding the length of stay in Denmark. All expect to stay in Denmark for at least 2 years and the majority expect to stay in Denmark for at least 5 years. = Chart 4: For how long do migrants expect to stay in Denmark?

25 20 15 10 5 0 At least At least At least At least 1 year 2 years 5 years 10 years

During the focus group discussion, it was pointed out that length of stay in Denmark would depend very much upon economic, legislative and social development in Romania during years to come. Chart 5 shows that the majority of migrants want to settle in their village/town of origin if/when they leave Denmark. Chart 5: Where do migrants want to settle eventually, if/when they leave Denmark?

Chart 3: Motivation for going to Denmark 3


In Romania: birth village/ town In Romania: bigger town

Chart 6 shows respondents’ career plans. Also here: some respondents ticked more than 1 possibility. Seemingly: a major part of respondents could well see themselves working in Denmark for a considerable period of time. They do not find job opportunities in contemporary Romania attractive. Then rather setting up private business, in farming or in other sectors – in Denmark or in Romania. Chart 6: Respondents’ career plans

Continue work in farming in Denmark Find work in town enterprise in Denmark

During the focus group discussion respondents confirmed that eventually they would like to settle in their home village/town. They dream about starting some kind of business there: farming or in other sectors. However, they find that the overall business framework in contemporary Romania is not encouraging, to a very large extent neglect (on the side of authorities) and because of the bureaucracy. Which is why, for the time being, they imagine that they will work in Denmark (or in some other Western country) for a considerable period of time, either in farming or in other sectors. Working as employees in Romania is not seen as a rewarding option (respondents perceive salaries in Romania as very low and working conditions not attractive). 4

The returning migrants – and those who did not return Typically, the young Romanians who come to Denmark in order to pursue work/training in agriculture will attend a course of duration 20 weeks, when they arrive in Denmark. Shortly before completing the introductory course they will, typically, make an educational contract with a farmer. This contract will cover both the period of practical farm work (typically 1 – 1½ years) and the subsequent theoretical course at an agricultural college (duration 16 weeks). Having completed the 2 theoretical courses and the practical training, the students are then “agricultural assistants”, meaning that they are able to independently, but under guidance, perform normal duties in a commercial (dairy or pig) farm. The content of the educational contract (salary, working hours etc.) is identical for Danish students and for foreign students and students receive salary, both while studying at College and while working on farms. Having completed the basic agricultural education, several options are available: - Students will go back to a farm and work as agricultural worker in Denmark for an extended period of time. - They continue the education in Denmark up to the level of “skilled farmer”. In this case the student will get one more educational contract comprising approx. 15 months of apprenticeship (practical work on commercial farms + further theory - 5 months). - They can change occupation and get work in other sectors in Denmark. - They can return to Romania. - They can proceed to a different country (not Romania). We contacted a number of young Romanians, who came to Denmark around 2005 (completed the basic agricultural education around 2007) in order to find out “what happened after”. We got feed back from 13 respondents. Not enough for giving a full overview of


outcomes, yet enough for illustrating tendencies. Out of these 13 respondents: - 2 are still in Denmark – working on farms - None have continued the education in Denmark up to the level of skilled farmer - 2 work in other sectors in Denmark - 9 have returned to Romania. All of them returned to their native towns/regions. All have jobs, typically agriculture related jobs in Agroindustries in towns. - None has proceeded to a different country. Of course the number of respondents is very low, but it is striking that so many have already now returned to Romania, presumably bringing with them new experiences, which they can utilise in their future career. We tried to examine this aspect in further detail by asking the question: Exactly how have you benefited from your training in Denmark? Not many respondents answered this question in any detail, but a few testimonials were given, mainly referring to professional experience, life experience, decision making skills, etc. “I learned a lot of interesting things in this period spent in Denmark, not only in agriculture, but also important things for a better life, finding a better job etc. Now I can say that I am more honest, think more positive and optimistic. Now when I take an important decision I reflect more at the problems and I think to take the best way to find the solution.” “I think that all what I have learned in DK help my CV here in Romania. Where I am working now it was very important that I have foreign experience.” “Good for Denmark because it provides cheap work force, and good for Romania: money for investment “

Implications for sending communities Participants in the focus group discussion were very much aware that, in the short term, outward migration acts as a brain drain, which act as a hindrance to the development of rural communities. However, this is true not only for migration out of Romania, but also for migration from rural areas to urban areas in Romania. And: the majority of respondents in the present study were born in towns or they had

migrated to towns before travelling to Denmark. The group, which migrated recently, do not at present have a clear picture, whether they will eventually return to Romania or not. But if they do return to Romania, they do not expect to settle in rural areas. They expect to settle in towns, or in villages located close to towns, where they have family, friends and network. And this is exactly what happened for majority of the respondents in the group, which migrated to Denmark approx. 6 years ago. The majority of respondents in this group have now returned to Romania, where they have settled in towns. During the focus group discussion it also came out clearly that issues like well developed infrastructure are considered important, when deciding where to settle – and possibly set up a business. These patterns are in accordance with findings of Sandu [2]: it is not very likely that migrants will return to remote villages with insufficient infrastructure, but it is quite likely that they return to villages, which have the following characteristics - located in a relatively poor region; - close to a market town; - near to a national highway; - have a youngish population; - a tradition of commuting in the village. Returning migrants can stimulate economic development in such villages, but only 4% of the villages in the analysed study [2] possess the above characteristics. It is therefore obvious that returning migrants cannot be considered as a “miracle cure” for ailments resulting from outward migration. Returning migrants will certainly contribute to the further development of Romanian society, aided by knowledge and competences acquired abroad, but from a rural development point of view: mainly via development of the agricultural sector at large or via trickle down effect. Only to a limited extent via direct involvement or investment in business in rural areas.

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CONCLUSIONS Young Romanians, who have recently migrated to Denmark in order to study/work in the agricultural sector, hope to earn some money and to attain new competences. They expect to stay in Denmark for a number of years, but the majority carry a dream of eventually settling in Romania, bringing with them new competencies and hopefully also some savings, which can be used for resuming life in Romania. Many young Romanians, who migrated to Denmark some 6 years ago have done just that: returned to Romania, where they have in a satisfactory manner continued their professional career. All of the returning migrants in the study have settled in towns. Thus there is little direct effect in terms of rural development derived from returning migrants. But there might well be spin-off effects or trickle down effects derived from returning migrants. REFERENCES [1] Louka T. Katseli, Robert E.B. Lucas and Theodora Xenogiani (2006): Effects of migration on sending countries: what do we know ? OECD Development Centre, Working Paper no 250. International symposium on migration and development, Turin, Italy. [2] Sandu Dumitru (2002): Emerging transnational migration from Romanian villages. www.migrationonline.cz . Translated from Migraţia transnaţională a romanilor din perspectiva unui recensamant comunitar in „Sociologie Romanească”, No. 3-4/2000 [3] UNDP (2009): Human Development Report. Overcoming barriers: Human mobility and development [4] Statistics Denmark: www.dst.dk [5] New in Denmark: www.nyidanmark.dk

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