The young people and women working in agriculture were informed about the development opportunities in this sector and possibilities of exchanging good practices in a national conference. The event was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment together with the Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture, with support from the EU Delegation to Moldova, IPN reports.

Iurie Usurelu, secretary general of state at the Ministry of Agriculture, said that one of the objectives of the event is to promote good practices that can be embraced by young people and women. Those who want to start a business in agriculture often do not have sufficient experience or do not know about the existing opportunities and the support provided by the state and foreign partners. “The goal is to combine three very important pillars – knowledge, financing and experience,” he stated.  

Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture director Nicolae Ciubuc noted that the state implements policies to support the young people and women who run businesses in agriculture. For example, the National Agriculture Development Fund benefits from increased subsidies, of 15% of the value of investments, in building and renovating hothouses and setting up multiannual plantations, in the animal-breeding sector, etc. Besides this support, the young people and women could get subsidies in advance next year.

In 2017, there were over 500 young agricultural producers and more than 300 women running businesses in agriculture.

The national conference was staged with the assistance of the EU technical assistance project to implement the sector reform contract “European Neighborhood Program for Agriculture and Rural Development” (ENPARD).