With a remarkable decline in crofting, are we seeing the end of the crofting way of life, or are there new opportunities in the 21st century?
Bho chionn ghoirid tha sinn air cr矛onadh m貌r fhaicinn ann an obair chroitearachd. Far an robh talamh aon uair torach, le pailteas de bheathaichean, tha e e a-nise b脿n agus air a dhol na fh脿sach. Le cuid a' ceannachd croitean airson taighean a thogail, tha e gu tric an 矛re mhath do-dh猫anta dhaibh-san aig a bheil 霉idh an talamh obrachadh an ceannachd.
Tha d貌igh beatha chroitearachd - an d脿 chuid mar chultar agus mar obair - ann an cunnart dol 脿 bith a r猫ir choltais. Ach, a dh' aindeoin an iomadh cnap-starraidh, tha feadhainn a' feuchainn ri croitearachd ath-bheothachadh - bho chuid a tha a' feuchainn rudan 霉ra, annasach agus d貌ighean obrach neo-脿bhaisteach, gu cuid eile a tha a' tilleadh gu modhan-obrach nas traidiseanta. 'S iad seo croitearan na h-aonamh linn fichead a tha a' feuchainn ri talamh a tha air an iomall agus bochd obrachadh. Ann an saoghal far a bheil an tuilleadh agus an tuilleadh cuideim air ar st貌ras bidhe , bheil 脿ite s貌nraichte aig croitearachd airson cuid de ar feumalachdan 脿iteachais a riarachadh ann an saoghal an l脿 'n-diugh?
The last few years have seen a remarkable decline in crofting activity. Where once land was grazed and cropped, it is now unused. Traded more as a commodity, croft land can often now be beyond the economic reach of those interested in working the land.
However, there are a few who are trying, against the odds, to make crofting work - whether through diversification, and adopting new and unusual methods, or returning to more traditional practices. These are the 21st century crofters who are trying to make food production on marginal croft land a viable proposition. In a world where there is an ever increasing demand on food resources does crofting have a place in meeting our agricultural needs?
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