Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 24 ISSUE 3
Written by Maria-Mihaela ANTOFIE

Climate change effects are more and more dramatic in the last years all over the world, and in the Eastern European countries too. In this regard, the self-sufficiency concept use for future rural strategies development should become more than relevant for ensuring food security. Such rural communities should take rapid measures for developing a new strategy for adapting to and mitigating the climate change effects. The more complex a rural landscape, the better responses against climate change effects should be. However, it seems that the best chances for the future may have heterogenous agricultural lands. In Romania, such rural areas can be easily found in Central Romania such as in Sibiu, and Brașov Counties. The scope of this article was to survey 19 properties known as Saxon home gardens in Ațel Village, Sibiu County, Romania, for self-sufficiency in case of vegetable crop production for one year. Also, the survey of wild plant species found in these home gardens is relevant to understand the need to ensure connectivity with the forests and the grasslands. At least 32 wild species and 26 crop species were identified. The self-sufficiency at the community level is ensured 100% based on the circular economy principles. The major limitation factor for agriculture in this locality is the bedrock that under severe drought periods may negatively impact food security for the future. However, the maintenance of wild or domesticated species but autochthonous, would further improve the response against climate change for rural communities in Central Romania as well as in the Easter European countries.

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