Being an organic farmer on 1.2 million hectares of land in China - this is the current project that Erich Stekovics is occupied with. Now, the organic farmer from Frauenkirchen in Burgenland is known beyond the borders of Austria as the "Paradeiser-Kaiser". Rock legend Joe Cocker bought seeds from Stekovics until his death, and Austropop singer Christina Stürmer grows 53-year-old tomato plants in her garden every year. From the coming year, the Burgenländer will supply his know-how made in Austria for organic vegetable growing in China. He will live in Inner Mongolia for five months a year with his wife.
It all started when the Chinese Minister of Infrastructure was literally moved to tears by Stekovics' tomatoes in a Viennese restaurant, said Erich Stekovics in the Ö3 program "Breakfast with me": "He said that he had eaten such tomatoes in his childhood and wanted to meet the person who grew these tomatoes."
An invitation to China followed, and things took their course. China wants to convert part of its agriculture to organic farming and intends to get into this market in a big way. Stekovics will be working as a consultant in China for the next five years, overseeing a project with 1.2 million hectares in Inner Mongolia, teaching as an Organics Chair and building a presentation garden near Shanghai.
Source: Passauer Neue Presse