Our priority is to create business opportunities in our localities; people build their house where they can find a job, which represents a source of income both for the local public authorities and for the citizens living in the locality, stated Minister of Agriculture Vladimir Bolea at the Mayors’ Forum.
The minister says that the saddest thing we have today in Moldova is the lack of people in the villages. The migration process can be stopped by creating jobs, developing family farms in localities. A small processing business formed by the members of a family is vital for the future of Moldovan localities, for the creation of jobs. Vladimir Bolea announced that in 2024 his Ministry will start a program for the development of small farmers. Ten agricultural chambers will operate in the country and will provide guidance to farmers.
“Technologies change, programs change, markets are diversified. Today, Moldova is a component part of the world, of global economic circuits. Today, a grape producer from the south of Moldova, from my native village of Carabetovca, for example, competes with Australia, with South America, with everyone in terms of grape production. And obviously they have to be informed, they have to know what the trends are. But this does not happen today. It will be possible to do these things exclusively through the agricultural chambers”, said the minister, stating that by developing agriculture in Moldova, we develop our villages, we develop Moldova.
Tatiana Badan, president of the Congress of Local Authorities (CALM), noted that local and central public authorities face the problem of salaries and personnel. In this situation, it would be a good idea to find a solution for all local civil servants to be salary motivated. In the same way, it is correct to think about the future provision of certain guarantees for civil servants.
Another issue that must be taken into account is the limited access to funds for the local authorities. Tatiana Badan assured that the authorities have capabilities and demonstrated this through the European Village Program, because no one thought that in such a short time so many local authorities would come up with solid project proposals to be funded. She also suggested that the CALM should become an “associate member” of the Cabinet.
