Moldova could receive EU funds for sustainable use of steppes

Moldova could receive financial assistance from the European Union as part of the TACIS project “Sustainable integrated land use of the Eurasian steppes”. Moldova, Russia and Ukraine will benefit from 2.5 million euros in assistance. Moldovan Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Anatol Gorodenco discussed this issue with the TACIS Rural Development Expert, Caroline la Chapelle, who is on a working visit to Chisinau until 20 February. An action plan for the project implementation formed the key part of their discussions. Resulting from the National Strategy for Sustainable Development of the Agrindustrial Complex, the priority directions in the project implementation would be: alleviating the consequences of the drought by expanding irrigated areas, setting up model farmsteads for growing environmentally clean products. The primary tasks of the project “Sustainable integrated land use of the Eurasian steppes” are to enhance soil conservation through best-suited land use and grassland pasture habitat restoration at the community level within privatised land holdings. Following the visit of the European expert, the draft document will be worked out, will be agreed with decision makers and representatives of the rural community as part of the second stage of the project.