Project to boost relief in the primary sector in Gipuzkoa
- The Trebatu association has been in operation for years in Ipar Euskal Herria, with the objective that those people who want to start this project can be trained beforehand. Taking as a model the project of Ipar Euskal Herria and pulling the same idea, in Gipuzkoa the association of the same name has also been created. “A large percentage of the owners of Gipuzkoan productions are in retirement age or close to it, and it was seen that it was not enough with the relay at home,” said Telmo Gartzia Arana, coordinator of Gipuzkoa Trebatu. The main objective of the partnership is to resolve the lack of relief and to keep agricultural projects alive.
The Trebatu project has been launched at the end of the summer of 2024, driven by the Federation of Rural Development Associations of Gipuzkoa Landaola and sponsored by Lurgintza, Abelur, Elika, Hazi, Etorlur, Fraisoro, Lanbide and the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa. “We have brought together training or exploitation spaces and trainers or entrepreneurs, in total, seven pairs have been formed,” explains Gartzia. Projects from various areas of the primary sector are involved in Trebatu: beef, milk, horticulture and floriculture. Each of these projects is forming a person who wants to dedicate himself to this profession in a two-year cycle.
“Many times, starting from scratch is better than starting to test, to see if you really like this activity, if it works…”, explains the coordinator. The benefits are for both sides, as there are many projects in the primary sector that are prepared to take over, but do not have to take over. In the case of Gipuzkoa, it is estimated that 78% of farms are run by people over 50 years of age, so it is clear that we need to work ways to facilitate family and extra-family relief for the immediate future.
Practice combined with training
Gartzia explained that there are no special requirements to participate as trebalari: They ask for the title of ESO and to be less than 52 years old. “In this two-year cycle, the trainers receive, in addition to the work of the farms, a broad section of training to work on aspects such as economic, legal and other management,” he explains. In the case of training areas, there are different types of farms in terms of production and model in the project. However, many of them are about to withdraw or are about to abandon the project. “But there are also others, such as farms that want to diversify and farms that can host a new partner,” he added.
In addition to the farms, Trebatu has a number of land and equipment available, in which the trainers are also developing their projects. “We make a very positive assessment of the way we have gone so far, it seems that the participants are at ease and we are seeing interest and honesty. Therefore, we hope that the project will continue in the future and that it will progress”, concluded.
