A committee will be set up to coordinate the assistance offered by Moldova’s partners for agriculture and rural development, as proposed by the European Union Delegation to Moldova, announced Vladimir Bolea, Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry.
Bolea told a press conference that the new organization will aim to improve coordination among the development partners that support the Moldovan agri-food sector. A technical and financial framework will be established for achieving the strategic objectives outlined by the Ministry. This will contribute to an efficient and timely implementation of foreign assistance projects and of the provisions contained in the Agricultural Development Strategy.
Asked by reporters how many hectares of land will be covered with irrigation systems as a result of the Strategy, the minister noted that there are two main partners supporting this area. An agreement with the World Bank is to be signed soon, covering three large projects for the rehabilitation of irrigation systems, with a potential of 7,500 hectares. There is also the support of the French Development Agency. “The big emphasis is on irrigation and there are several measures on a small scale, including the restoration, reconstruction or construction from scratch of ponds for small-scale irrigation in the country”, the minister said.
Raimund Jehle, representative of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in Moldova, said that the FAO, in collaboration with the Ministry, presented a Rapid Response Plan which provides, in particular, the supply of seeds, fertilizers or animal feed to households or to small landowners in rural areas as a support for the spring season, but also for the fall of 2023. “We intend to obtain from partners, from donors, an amount of 35 million dollars. We have not received anyone’s commitment yet, but we hope that, with the publication of this Rapid Response Plan, we will get the needed support”, said Raimund Jehle.
With the support of FAO, a conference will be held in Moldova bringing together the ministers of agriculture from EU member countries and other friends of Moldova. The event is scheduled for October.
