An American expert has provided professional consultancy on cost-effective energy use in the greenhouse production process

Given the heating costs are constantly growing, while the greenhouse production is the biggest energy consumer from all agricultural industries, the INAGRO Scientific and Technologic Park of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova benefited in the period of November 8 until November 20 from professional American expert assistance on the matter. The expertise focused on ensuring an effective energy use in greenhouses. The assistance was voluntarily provided by Mr. Mike Brugger, an expert in greenhouse design and management, with the support of the Farmer-to-Farmer Program (FtF), implemented in our country by the USAID-funded organization CNFA.

Mike Brugger focused mostly on providing the INAGRO representatives with basic information on matters of best greenhouse heating practices, and adequate greenhouse equipment types. He also developed an operational manual for establishing a cost-effective and energy-saving fully-functional greenhouse.

The consultancy was provided given INAGRO has recently launched the establishment of a new greenhouse, with a total surface of 2000 square meters. Its purpose is to provide the agribusinessmen with a model of effective and profitable greenhouse production, based on adequate use of agricultural technologies, as well as on achieving optimum productivity in added value agriculture, testing of new work methods and implementation of sustainable agricultural practices.

The major issues addressed by professional expert assistance are the installation of the irrigation and heating systems, as well as the optimum practices of greenhouse covering. The FTF volunteer also identified various development scenarios for the INAGRO representatives, and developed several recommendations for performing minimum resource-requiring operations, which could ensure a major impact on effective greenhouse management.

During his stay Moldova, Mike Brugger worked together with the representatives of both INAGRO and the Agency for Innovation and Technology Transfer of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, as well as with the INAGRO Scientific and Technologic Park residents.

The FtF program provides the farmers’ groups, cooperatives, and agribusinesses with the opportunity to benefit from free American consultancy in order to improve their performances, by ensuring them a professional approach of the technical and financial matters. The FTF assistance is focused on the production and processing of fruit, vegetables, and dairy.

# # #

CNFA is an organization for international development from USA, established in 1985, which is dedicated to increasing rural incomes by empowering farmers and rural entrepreneurs. CNFA activity is focused on agricultural development based on initiatives to facilitate market access, enhance agribusiness competitiveness, increase productivity, and improve access to inputs and finance for businesses. CNFA has a successful track record of performance in Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia, and has managed over $200 million in donor-funded agriculture development programs over the past decade. In the Republic of Moldova, CNFA is currently implementing the five-year Farmer-to-Farmer Program, worth $2.5 million, and has recently concluded the $12 million-worth Agribusiness Development Program.

For details please contact Nadejda MOCANU, Farmer-to-Farmer Program Coordinator (tel.: 022 240-311, 069 260-005), nmocanu@moldova.cnfa.org, www.cnfa.md)