Moldova wastes an important opportunity to transform the table grape friendly climate into export revenues

Over the past decade, the Moldovan table grape industry has experienced losses both in terms of quantity and planted acreage, despite increasing international demand for table grapes. Thus, Moldova is losing an important opportunity to transform its table grape friendly climate into export revenues, Conrad Fritsch, director of the Agribusiness Development Project (ADP), stated Thursday, September 13, at the National Forum of Table Grape Sector Currently, about 20,000 ha are used for production, compared to 28,000 ha in 1995. Production levels of table grapes in 2006 were roughly half of levels in the years of 2001-2004. Challenges facing the table grape industry include lack of bearing vineyards under new table grape varieties; lack of organised infrastructure for collecting and storing fresh grapes; lack of marketing knowledge and lack of financial mechanisms to stimulate industry growth. According to Fritsch, ADP is ready to offer Moldovan farmers the necessary consulting assistance in producing and exporting table grapes, and in matching the international standards. The head of the Ago-Industrial Agency Moldova Vin, Valeriu Mironescu, said that the authorities are willing to encourage expansion of new vineyards under new varieties, including table varieties. In this connection, he reminded that the Government has increased the amount of subsidies for newly created vineyards, and established a mortgage company in the field, which is expected to help farmers create some 2,500 ha of new vineyards each year. The event brought together table grape producers, seedling and equipment providers, financial institutions as well as researchers, consultants, journalists, and NGO and government representatives. The event is part of Agribusiness Development Project’s efforts to provide technical assistance to farmers and agribusiness to improve their export potential. Since its inception in 2004, ADP has provided technical assistance and training in production, post-harvest handling, business management and marketing to over 4,000 agricultural producers.