Ion, a livestock farmer in the Eastern European country of Moldova, checks whether the equipment attached to his cow’s udders is working properly, making sure his animal is comfortable. “They’re the same as people, it’s just that they don't talk,” he explains, gently patting the cow’s flank. Ion cares for around 30 cows on their land in Ungheni, a small town on the Romanian border, where he has lived his whole life. There are only a few ways to make a living in this agricultural community — either on your own land or on somebody else’s. Ion became his own boss when he purchased an old farm in 2014. He and his family transformed the fallow fields into a functioning operation with the help of Kiva loans. “When we just started our business, everything here was wild and full of overgrown grass,” says Ion. After repaying and reapplying for more microloans, he added more animals to the first herd of 20 milk cows.
“There are years when it’s better and years when it’s worse. We borrowed money, bought goats, borrowed again, and bought some more.” Even as the price of feed and the market price for milk fluctuates, Ion works steadily, caring for his livestock and his family, building and maintaining his dream day by day.
Making it work at home
Moldova has one of the lowest GDPs in Europe. After its post-USSR independence, the country never quite recovered from an economic crisis in the 1990s, and widespread bank fraud uncovered in 2014 led many citizens to leave their homes in search of work. But Ion remained, following the footsteps of generations before him through the fields and orchards of Ungheni. “We stayed, because we were always linked to the lands,” he says with a small shrug. Together with his wife, Ion must work every day — even on Christmas — to feed and milk the cows and keep the farm running.
“We can’t allow ourselves to have a day off yet. The fact that you’re sick or lazy, that’s not an excuse,” he says stoically. “If our animals stay healthy, we’ll finally get to have a good income.”
How a loan helped Ion expand his herd
When Ion says he is connected to this land, he means it literally. “I spent my childhood here, in this barn, because my parents used to work here,” he explains. And later, as an adult, Ion wanted to know what it would be like to own the actual land. “I was working as a truck driver and would always pass by this place. I was dreaming about building a farm here.” While he was able to secure a traditional bank loan to purchase the land, he was relieved to find Kiva Lending Partner SmartCredit, a microfinance institution based in Ungheni, to help him buy animals and grow his herd. He still has the truck, but now he uses it to manage his own business, which includes selling milk and breeding their 30 cows. But there are still more animals to buy, along with tools and other equipment, before Ion feels like he can take a rest. “We wish to get to 80, so me and my family could feel that we have some extra money that we can spend,” he says.
Success means relying on each other
One day, in addition to expanding the herd, Ion would like to take out another loan to modernize the old barn, introduce new breeds, and maybe even plant another apple orchard.
Though the work is hard and unrelenting, Ion knows he has the support of his family. And while working with one’s spouse can be challenging for many, he lauds his wife for toiling with him day in and day out. “We don't have the time to fight,” he admits. “We walk through everything together. If I fall, she falls. It’s the same the other way around.”
Help support smallholder farmers with Kiva
Smallholder farmers across the globe have a strong connection to their land and to their communities. But many times, they don’t get the support they need to flourish. With the help of Kiva Lending Partners and individual Kiva lenders, smallholder farmers around the world can access the financial tools they need to thrive. Tools like loans to help them buy farm equipment, livestock, and more, so that they can increase their earnings, better support themselves and their families, and plan for the future. This Earth Day, help support smallholder farmers worldwide.
