The Millennium Challenge Fund (MCF) Moldova has announced a new contest for the rehabilitation of four irrigation systems on the Nistru River: in Jora de Jos village of Orhei district, Cosnita of Dubasari, and Puhaceni and Roscani of Anenii Noi. The works are executed within the Compact Program that is financed by the Millennium Challenge Corporation. The deadline for applications is July 29, IPN reports.
“The rehabilitation of the irrigation systems will enable the agricultural producers to optimize operational costs, to use water for irrigation during the season and outside it, to reduce the losses of water by installing meters,” said the Fund’s head Valentina Badrajan. The rehabilitation of the four irrigation systems will enable to extend the irrigated areas from 600 ha to about 5,400 ha. Currently, the irrigation systems benefit over 6,000 agricultural producers, almost 5,000 of whom are members of the Associations of Water Users for Irrigation.
MCF Moldova and the consortium of Romanian companies Hidroconstructia& IMSAT Muntenia on May 27 signed an agreement on the reconstruction and modernization of the irrigation systems in Lopatna village of Orhei district and in Criuleni. The US$8.3 million contract is to be implemented over the next 18 months.
“We hope that the initiative to rehabilitate irrigation systems will be supported by the Moldovan farmers by extending the number of cultivate plots, building refrigerating storerooms and making investments in packing equipment, which are basic components for a modern agriculture,” said Kara McDonald, deputy head of the U.S. Embassy in Chisinau.
Acting Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vasile Bumacov said it is important that the model of the Compact Program be applied in other regions, with the support of other donors. Thus, the construction works should be performed in time so as to meet farmers’ expectations.
The rehabilitation of 11 centralized irrigation systems is one of the objectives of the US$262 million Compact that was signed by the Government of Moldova and MCC, in the name of the U.S. Government, at the start of 2010.
