At least 17 Moldovan businesses will benefit from free American consultancy in the year 2011, with the support of the Farmer-to-Farmer Program

At least 17 agribusinesses from the Republic of Moldova, focusing on fruit, vegetable and dairy production, will benefit from free American consultancy during 2011, with the support of the Farmer-to-Farmer Program (FTF), implemented in our country by the USAID-funded organization CNFA.

Several new businesses are about to be launched in Moldova based on the provided American consultancy, such as: sweet cherry production under protected areas, vegetable processing for soy dip sauce production, establishment of a soil testing lab, launching of a modern slaughterhouse, production of forage in accordance with the most advanced standards in the field, etc. Moreover, several businesses are to be expanded or modernized next year; businesses currently focusing on dairy cattle growing, consumer and marketing cooperative development, providing of consulting and irrigation services, and production and processing of fruit, vegetables, and dairy products.

For this purpose, 31 qualified experts are to be selected on a contest basis in the United States, experts that possess scientific or teaching degrees, and have proven substantial experience in production, processing, management, marketing, finance, partnership, etc. The experts will pay visits of up to 2-3 weeks to Moldova, in order to work together with the beneficiaries in studying their problems and provide them with solutions and recommendations, according to the most efficient existing practices.

During the year 2010, 20 Moldovan companies acting as host organizations, as well as 700 agribusiness professionals have benefited from specialized consultancy, provided by the volunteers of the FTF Program. Based on the American expertise, new businesses were launched, focusing on milk processing, growing highly productive cattle breeds, establishment of modern greenhouses, delivering of TV shows on agricultural topics, etc.

More than 50 vegetable growers from Moldova have benefited from assistance and consultancy on modern methods of designing greenhouses. The vegetable growers have assimilated new practices of heat preservation and heating with minimum resources, optimum soil preparation procedures, pest and disease prevention and management, including through organic methods, greenhouse ventilation, seedling production and selection of highly productive and disease resistant varieties.

Moreover, about 20 dairy producers from the north of the republic have been assisted on matters of increasing productivity, development of optimum animal nutrition programs, calf care in the first hours of life, livestock health and care, and disease prevention and treatment. Thus, the milk-collecting cooperative "Vita-Lact" from the village of Ignăţei, Rezina district, was provided with professional expertise when launching milk processing activities, and has received information on modern marketing practices assimilation and development of Web pages. During this year, the cooperative has managed to conclude product delivery contracts with important commercial units from the districts of Rezina, Şoldăneşti, Orhei, and Chişinău City.

Furthermore, a farm was modernized in Ghiliceni, Teleneşti, based on the American free stall farm system, which provides animal comfort due to the good ventilation, gas discharge, and free animal-walking within the barn. This also ensures an increase of the productivity, given a larger number of animals is now managed with minimum staff. In the same time, a business from Fundurii Vechi, Glodeni district, has implemented dairy farm modernization activities, and has also assimilated advanced practices of cow care for the dairy cattle of highly-productive breeds, after recently importing 20 springer heifers of Simmental breed from Austria.

10 almond growers from the districts of Anenii Noi, Căuşeni and Ştefan Vodă have also benefited from professional consultancy on the modernization of the local almond planting, harvesting, processing, and storing practices. For this, recommendations were developed focusing on weather risk prevention, soil fertilization in almond orchards, mechanization of almond production operations, and establishment of specialized units for the entire value chain, starting with the planting and finishing with the marketing of almond kernels.

A major aspect of FtF activity in the year 2010 is to have assisted several businesses from the Transnistria region, with the support of six American volunteers specializing in strategic and business planning, vegetable and fruit production, and the delivery of TV shows addressing agricultural issues.

The estimated value of the consultancy to be provided in 2011 is of about $1 million. Overall, 125 American volunteers with extensive agribusiness experience are to come to the Republic of Moldova with the support of the Farmer-to-Farmer Program beginning with the year 2008 and until 2013. As the result of their contribution, a $10 million increase (both direct and indirect) in agricultural sales is estimated.

The FTF Program is a result of the American experts’ willingness to share their extensive knowledge and lifelong practical experience. FTF provides these experts with the opportunity to contribute to the development of businesses and rural communities, to gain international experience, to travel for free and to directly communicate with people from the countries they visit.

The consultancy provided by the American volunteers to the local companies has the following general objectives: to increase the income of the private farmers while assisting them in order to initiate commercial group activities, to enhance the agricultural businesses that contribute to the economic development, including the development of rural communities, and to facilitate access to the loans for private farmers and agricultural businesses, by increasing their knowledge of planning and financial management.

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)