The production of berries offers opportunities of making profit. Rises of up to 500% in revenues were recorded over the last few years alone. The estimates were made in the first conference of berry producers of Moldova, which was held in Chisinau on December 11, IPN reports.

“We aim to help the farmers increase productivity and revenues from this business by system interventions that would make the market sustainable,” said Anatol Palade, director of the Business Consultancy Center that is implementing the project “Access to Market and Improvement of Berry Productivity”(AMIB).

Experts of the project said the planning of sales, depending on the demand on the market, is an important aspect of the berry business. It is also important to ensure a longer period for keeping the berries fresh.  

Andrei Manciu, project manager within the Business Consultancy Center, said the lack of long-term partnerships between farmers and processors, with planning of minimum five years, is one of the most serious problems faced by the berries market. Each participant in the market is waiting for initiatives on the part of the others.

Special attention must be paid to packing because the European consumers have special requirements. The berries need oxygen to remain fresh. That’s why special packing technologies were developed.

The participants in the conference will be involved in the subsequent activities of the AMIB project, especially those concerning specialized training, access to bushes of a high quality, promotion of irrigation technologies and staging of exhibitions, fairs and tasting events. The project aims to support demonstrative post-harvest sorting, packing and transporting projects.