Farmers, including small ones, from the left side of the Nistru River can benefit from professional consultancy at an organic agriculture consulting center. This was created on the initiative of four specialized associations from the right and left sides of the Nistru within the UNDP-implemented Support to Confidence Building Measures Program, IPN reports.
The specialists of the center based in Sucleia village promote the reduction and minimization of the use of fertilizers and pesticides, crop rotation, implementation of modern technologies in agriculture, etc. Also, the farmers can find here information about the possibilities of accessing grants and funds for developing organic agriculture businesses.
The idea of creating the center was developed within a project that involved four associations operating on both banks of the Nistru, namely: “Cutezatorul” and “EcoAgriNord” of Falesti town; “Vitality” of Tiraspol, and “Belyi Most” of Chitcani village of Slobozia district. The four organizations designed a common platform of cooperation in organic agriculture, with the constitution of an Association of Producers of Ecological and High-Quality Products being the first step.
According to the head of “Vitality” Veaceslav Bejenari, the key goal of the center at this stage is to persuade producers that the ecological fruit and vegetables offer access to new markets. “In the course of 2017, we cultivated three demonstrative plots on which we grew corn, sunflower and strawberries. The famers who visited these saw the advantages of the eco-friendly technology, without the use of chemicals,” stated the producer.
“Cutezatorul” director Victor Cimpoies said the farmers from both sides of the Nistru have capacities to cultivate ecologically pure fruit and vegetables. “If this condition is met, our products will conquer large markets,” he noted.
The Support to Confidence Building Measures Program financed by the EU and implemented by UNDP Moldova contributes to building confidence between the two sides of the Nistru by involving representatives of the business community, leaders of local communities or of civil society in joint projects.
