Moldovan businesses are currently using advanced management practices for the highly-productive dairy cattle breeds December 16, 2010
Between December 6 and December 16, an American expert has assisted the agribusiness Total-Gnatiuc LTD from the village of Fundurii Vechi, Glodeni district, in the assimilation of modern cow care practices for the dairy cattle of the highly-productive Simmental breed. David Ziegler is a researcher of the University of Minnesota, selected on a contest basis in order to voluntarily provide assistance to the business with the support of the Farmer-to-Farmer Program (FtF), implemented in our country by the USAID-funded organization CNFA.
The volunteer’s activity was mostly focused on assisting the host in implementing adequate practices for the adaptation and subsequent management of 20 heifers of Simmental breed, recently imported from Austria. Thus, programs of ensuring an optimum animal nutrition were developed, as well as programs for general health supervision, quarantine, and minimization of the stress caused by transportation and relocation. Moreover, the expert has trained the company employees on matters of housing, as well as on matters of springer heifer and calf care. Training also focused on stable adjustment in accordance with the modern dairy farm standards.
Total-Gnatiuc LTD was established in the year 2004, and has initiated investment in milk production in the year 2008. The business currently owns a 36 head of cattle farm. Until recently, the farm had about 20 fattening cow calves and 30 dairy cows of local breeds, all producing about 400l of milk on a daily basis in summertime.
The farm is currently equipped with garbage disposal systems, natural ventilation, electric illumination, and water supply and waste storage systems. The business is also using a refrigerator with a total capacity of 700l and is planning to extend its capacities of milk storage and separation in the near future. A forage store was built here in the year 2009, and farm machinery was purchased for preparing the feed.
Total-Gnatiuc LTD is currently managing 13 hectares of agricultural land, mostly used for growing alfalfa and corn. 10 hectares of pasture are also currently leased from the local mayor’s office.
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. During their stay in Moldova, the American experts are providing short term consultancy to farmers, other than host businesses, which apply for assistance.
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) | 
