The first irrigation system rehabilitated with the U.S. Government’s Compact funds was launched in Criuleni today, October 28. About US$4.7 million was invested to rehabilitate the Criuleni irrigation system, IPN reports, quoting a press release of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Moldova.
MCA Moldova executive director Valentina Badrajan said this is the first system that has been rehabilitated since Moldova gained independence.
The Criuleni irrigation system was built in the 1980s and has never been rehabilitated ever since. Before being rehabilitated it was only partially operational. About 900 individuals own farmland in its area and about 400 of them are members of the Criuleni Water Users’ Association.
Attending the event, U.S. Ambassador William H. Moser said one of the reasons why the American people support Moldova is the confidence in the people who work hard and are able to cope with challenges. He urged the members of the Water Users’ Association of Criuleni to think what to plant on the irrigated areas so as to be competitive on the external markets.
Prime Minister Iurie Leanca said that due to the U.S. support Criuleni has a modern irrigation system. ”I urge the agricultural producers to make a commitment to export products of a high quality to the U.S. market in 2-3 years,” he stated.
The rehabilitated and upgraded irrigation system will allow farmers to use water for irrigation when they need and to pay for the amount of water they use due to maximum reduction of leakage and installation of water meters. On the other hand, the availability of water for irrigation will encourage farmers to grow high value agricultural products, therefore leading to higher and better harvest. The rehabilitated system provides technical possibilities of expanding the irrigated area by 500 hectares more with private funds.
The US$262 million Compact is implemented by the Millennium Challenge Account Moldova.
