A project of USD 840 000 will be implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with financial support from the Government of Japan to help over 3 600 highly vulnerable farming households in rural communities. The project is part of the FAO emergency program in the Republic of Moldova and will contribute together with two other projects in mitigating the effects of the ongoing crisis, IPN reports.

The beneficiaries will receive timely and season-sensitive agricultural inputs for cereal and vegetable cultivation and livestock raising. All inputs provided will be complemented by technical training on good agricultural and climate-resilient techniques and practices.

Yamada Yoichiro, Ambassador of Japan to Moldova, said that together with FAO, they are supporting smallholder farmers and will contribute to ensuring food security in the Republic of Moldova. “We will continue to provide support for the people of Republic of Moldova, who are affected by the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine,” noted the official.

The latest FAO report on Crop and Food Supply Assessment in the Republic of Moldova states that smallholder farms are the agriculture producers who suffer the greatest negative impacts from drought and war. Their access to seeds, animal feed, and fertilizers is limited and high credit interest rates are constraining their ability to utilize financing services. In response, the project will supply agriculture inputs to small farmers and use FAO expertise to build their resilience against future shocks.

FAO Representative in the Republic of Moldova, Raimund Jehle, is confident that this project will reach its aim. “Without urgently needed assistance, income losses and higher food insecurity are looming,” stated Raimund Jehle.

“This project is an essential step forward, enabling thousands of vulnerable farming households, affected by war or extreme weather conditions with much-needed support so that they may reestablish production and attain self-sufficiency,” said Vladimir Bolea, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry.

Since March 2022, FAO has been implementing in the Republic of Moldova an emergency program with a total budget of nearly USD 3.5 million, with USD 500 000 from the Organization’s own funds and the remainder contributed by other donors.