The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will have an official Representative Office in Moldova. An agreement to this effect was signed by FAO Director General Jose Graziano da Silva and Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vasile Bumacov in Chisinau on April 7, IPN reports.

Since 1995, when Moldova joined FAO, there were implemented a number of technology transfer projects to support the farmers in their efforts, especially the young ones.

Jose Graziano da Silva said that Moldova has soil of a high quality and thus they will pay increased attention to the implementation of soil conservation technology. Projects to reduce the impact of climate change on agricultural production and to prevent disasters will continue to be carried out.

Vasile Bumacov said the opening of a FAO Representative Office in Moldova marks a new stage in the country’s relations with this organization. FAO does not provide loans for agriculture. But the projects implemented in Moldova with the support of FAO − to remove pesticides, to improve seed control and to support the agricultural census – were very important for agriculture. The FAO Representative Office will be based in the building of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry.

FAO was founded in 1945 with a mandate to raise levels of nutrition and standards of living, to improve agricultural productivity, and to better the condition of rural popualtions.