The formation of Local Action Groups in the rural areas of Moldova is a chance for developing these. The Romanian Center for European Policies carried out a study to determine the opportunity of creating such groups in Moldova’s villages, by the model of those of the EU. The research showed there is a pronounced need for the state policies to address the development of villages in an integrated manner so as to approach the whole range of problems and the inter-correlations between them, IPN reports.
The analysis authors conducted a poll in 16 villages of Moldova, where they spoke to economic entities, agricultural producers and representatives of schools, social services and NGOs and to local leaders. All the respondents, either local mayors, agricultural producers or other business entities, named similar community problems that are related to infrastructure, such as sewerage, water supply, state of the roads. These also referred to the level of equipment in agriculture, mentioning the lack of centers for collecting agricultural products and of an irrigation system.
The agricultural producers also mentioned problems related to subsidization. They said the agricultural subsidies must be calculated per hectare, while the criteria for accessing these must be clearer. They also enumerated the lack of large contracts for the supply of products. At local level, there are few shops interested in buying products, while those interested ask for consistency, but it is hard to ensure this when the producers do not form associations. The agricultural producers are rather dissatisfied with the way in which they cooperate between them. They said that investments do not appear and the area cannot develop economically when there is no cooperation.
Most of the communities covered by the study want to be twinned with a Romanian community owing to the possible partnerships and financing that they can get directly from the Government of Romania.
The largest part of those surveyed believe in the utility of creating Local Action Groups in Moldova. The main development objectives that they must assume, from the respondents’ viewpoint, are related to agriculture (processing and pre- and post-harvest infrastructure) and infrastructure (sewerage, roads, waste collection). The respondents consider the mayor’s office, business entities, agricultural producers and nongovernmental organizations should actively become involved in such a Local Action Group.
