Szőcs Péter Levente (szerk.): Berveni. Ghid cultural şi istoric (Satu Mare, 2009)
Historical data
Agriculture in the swamp had its specific features. The crops that resisted the wet land of Ecedea were relatively few. In spring, the water resulted from snowmelting stayed on land surface until early May, making impossible the sowing of plants with a long cycle of life. Even in late spring, plowing could not be done, favoring the spreading of weeds and thus decreasing the quantity and quality of the harvest. The advantages of living in the swamp would compensate to a certain extent, the poor performance of the agricultural sector. Fish was the main source of food, as well as a precious good for trade. Animal husbandry was also a profitable activity, due to wide areas covered by pasture and rich meadows, which were suitable even in dry years. The swamp provided considerable resources of food for survival even during winter. In Berveni, cane harvesting was a prevalent activity especially among the poor. Inhabitants used to rent cane areas from the noble owners, and sell it providing a sufficient income to support the entire family in cold season. Ecedea Swamp with all the advantages that it offered to the poor, was rather unprofitable for the nobles. This aspect raised the idea of draining the swamp since the mid-eighteenth century. Count Ferenc Károlyi submitted a proposal to the Diet in this respect, but it was not successful in the first phase. The count continued the effort, and he argued that the draining will abolish an obstacle for the royal salt transport. Finally the proposal was accepted, the works, though were not started. The draining was began a century later, when the Association of Draining the Swamp of Ecsed and of the Altarul bisericii romano-catolice din Berveni A börvelyi római katolikus templom oltárképe The altar painting of the roman-catholic church of Berveni 29
