Â鶹Éç

Bho chionn ghoirid tha sinn air crìonadh mòr fhaicinn ann an obair chroitearachd. Far an robh talamh aon uair torach, le pailteas de bheathaichean, tha e e a-nise bàn agus air a dhol na fhàsach. Le cuid a' ceannachd croitean airson taighean a thogail, tha e gu tric an ìre mhath do-dhèanta dhaibh-san aig a bheil ùidh an talamh obrachadh an ceannachd.

Tha dòigh beatha chroitearachd - an dà chuid mar chultar agus mar obair - ann an cunnart dol à bith a rèir choltais. Ach, a dh' aindeoin an iomadh cnap-starraidh, tha feadhainn a' feuchainn ri croitearachd ath-bheothachadh - bho chuid a tha a' feuchainn rudan ùra, annasach agus dòighean obrach neo-àbhaisteach, 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 stòras bidhe , bheil àite sònraichte aig croitearachd airson cuid de ar feumalachdan àiteachais a riarachadh ann an saoghal an là '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?