Four associations from both sides of the Nistru River created a cooperation platform to promote ecological agriculture. These are: “Cutezatorul” and “EcoAgriNord” of Falesti town; “Vitality” of Tiraspol, and “Belyi most” of Chitcani village of Slobozia district. The common activities carried out within the cooperation platform are financed by the European Union through the Support to Confidence Building Measures Program that is implemented by UNDP Moldova, IPN reports.

In a press release, the project’s team says the project will last for 16 months and will contribute to changing the rural development paradigm, reducing or minimizing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and to employing the crop rotation principle. There will be set up thee demonstrative plots for cultivating corn, sunflower and strawberries. These will convince the farmers of the advantages of using environment-friendly technologies to cultivate land without using chemical substances.

The project envisions the instructing of 12 trainers who will afterward help the farmers produce, certify and initiate agricultural businesses and sell their products. The first Center for Information and Consultancy in Agriculture and an Association of Producers of Ecological and High-Quality Products will be set up in Transnistria.

Simultaneously, the project will contribute to increasing confidence between the people from both sides of the Nistru by engaging representatives of the local authorities, scientific institutions, NGOs and the business community in joint economic and social development activities.