Investment in the irrigation sector will be extended to ensure sustainability to the U.S. Government's Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact for Moldova. At a meeting of the Steering Committee of the Millennium Challenge Account Moldova (MCA Moldova), it was decided to continue investing in reforming the irrigation infrastructure from funds available after September 1 when the Compact is due to expire, the Moldovan Government said in a press release.
The Committee members proposed that the MCA Moldova needs to reorganize in order to ensure sustainability to the investments made through the MCC Compact in the last five years. The reorganized body would support the overall activity of the associations of irrigation water users, the extension of irrigated areas, the promotion of models to rehabilitate water supply systems and the identification of investments necessary to further renovate the irrigation infrastructure. The necessary resources will be used from the refinance fund, formed from repayments of Compact loans borrowed by farmers from the MCC funds.
Prime Minister Valeriu Strelets appreciated the accomplishments of the MCC Compact for Moldova and thanked the United States Government for the contribution made to Moldova's economic growth and poverty reduction.
Leslie McCuaig, the MCC Country Resident Director, stated that the U.S. Government views the MCC Compact as an investment into Moldova's future. “The partnership between the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the Government of Moldova doesn't end with the first Compact. It will continue to ensure sustainability to the investment made in the road infrastructure and the agricultural sector”, said Leslie McCuaig.
During the implementation of the Compact assistance program in 2010-2015, 96 kilometers of national roads and 20 kilometers of local roads were repaired, 22 kilometers of sidewalks and two new bridges were built, and 13 others were reconstructed. Additionally, 10 systems to irrigate 12,000 hectares of farmland were started to be reconstructed. Assistance was offered to create 11 associations of irrigation water users, bringing together 6,000 farmers, and $14 million was offered to farmers to invest in post-harvesting infrastructure and farm equipment.
