Country Slovenia

Traditional onion variety from Raka (E Slovenia) - revival

Subtitle / abstract Local people decided to revive cultivation of an old red onion variety by help of CAP .
Domain of activity
  • Agriculture
Support of the practice documentation film, articles and news in different media
Place of experiment Raka (E Slovenia 45°55′42.74″N 15°22′56.3″E)
Description of experiment The interview with the president of local Turist association in Raka (Dolenjska region, Slovenia) was conducted to identify good practice of transfer of agroecological kowledge by help of CAP mechanisms. He explained how they managed to revive production of traditional old local variety of oninons of once well kown Raka onions. In 2011 private iniciative of local Turist association and different other stakeholders from Raka identified a need to revive the production of Raka oninons. They proposed the project of revival of Raka onion and 2013 won the tender of LEADER program. Traditional, almost extinct practices, which are a good example of agroecological konowledege, were collected in the area where Raka onions were produced in the past. From different informators, predominantly housewifes, the tehcnology of production and posharvest treatment were documented. Seeds of garden populatuions were collected and description of the variety was done by agricultural professionals. Also the technology of growing was set and seedlings produced in glasshouses of Biotecnical center Grm Novo mesto. The bochure with descriptions and technology was prepared. In connection with promotion of Raka onions culinary workshops, degustations and education events were organized. Onions were starting point of joining producers of different local produsts (vegatebles, herbs, honey, arts and crafts) under common brand Najboljše z Rake (The best from Raka).
More information Onions from Raka were well konwn and appreciated in Austro-hungarian empire. In the times of Maria Theresia vegetables and fruit from Dolenjska were due to their quality transported to Wienna and sold also to the Habsburg Royal Court. Raka was the first stop on the way and their onions were added to transports. Specific growing conditions and long adaptation of the plant resulted in specific quality of the produce. Almost all homestades had a plot with onions. Producers exchanged seeds and kept them. Special technoques of growing onion plants for seeds were developed and employed. The tradition survived to 20th century. In late 1950 there was a farmer on Raka who produced between 30 to 50 tons of Raka variety onions, but he didn't have successor and the production ceased. Raka onions remained only on private vegetable gardens. The iniciative of Turist association helped to revive the stroy and to connect it with tourist, education and social activities. Informator: Alojz Kerin, president of Turistic association Lovrenc from Raka. Raka: http://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raka About Raka onions on national TV portal: https://www.rtvslo.si/lokalne-novice/dolenjska/raska-c-bula-najboljse-z-rake/323508 (video and article, photos) An article in Dolenjski list newspaper: http://www.dolenjskilist.si/2013/11/22/106592/novice/posavje/Raski_c_buli__zelijo_vrniti_nekdanji_sloves/ An article in Delo newspaper: http://www.delo.si/prosti-cas/kulinarika/cebula-na-krozniku-v-caju-in-na-turu.html
Succes factor CAP measure LEADER gives a good opportunity to Local action groups to realize small projects connected to agroeclogical knowledge of local communities. The need of revival was identified by a group of local stakeholders and turned into project proposal. Raka onion variety survived the time of neglection and became the focal point of local initiative of connecting local producers of food. art and craft and caterers, under common brand. The story enabled promotion of local specifics to natives to enhance teir selfesteem. It represents interesting starting point of turist and educational activities in local community.
Met difficulties There was no documentation about Raka variety onions. All data had to be collected from the schratch and contacts with profesionals had to be established to get the best results. Starting seed material was scarse in the beginning. Some local people showed scepticism about the success of the story.
Contact Alojz Kerin
Contact email td.lovrenc@gmail.com
Address Raka 36 a, 8274 Raka SLOVENIJA
Town Raka, Slovenia
Website http://www.tdlovrenc.com
Author of the index card dr. Janko RODE
Author Structure Chamber of agriculture and forestry of Slovenia, Gospodinjska 6, SI-100 Ljubjana, SLOVENIJA
Author Email janko.rode@kgzs.si