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"The U.S. experts were the ones to recommend us these varieties, given they bear fruit from May until October-November", Vasile Boţan states. – For seasonal strawberries, harvesting only lasts up to three weeks."
According to Vasile Boţan, the main constraints in growing strawberries are the investments of about 20.000 euros per hectare and the lack of labor. The benefit of the ever-bearing varieties is that they are planted in April-May, harvesting begins 2.5 months later, and the investment is recovered by late fall. The grower has noticed more and more farmers are getting interested in these varieties, with the purposes of planting and having the crop available until late in fall.
Ion Purcel, another grower from the village of Hirova, Călăraşi district, has been growing strawberries for seven years and mentions that, until now, he has only been using primary practices available on the Internet. This year, the farmer has decided to expand the strawberry planting surface and to use modern technologies.
"I am interested in the more advanced experience, given I have been growing strawberries for seven years now, using only simple methods, Ion Purcel states. I’ve had 1000 square meters of land and planted 2000 more this year, using modern technologies. I want to expand the surface, given I like strawberries very much, and they also happen to be profitable."
Surendra Dara, PhD in agriculture, has visited Moldova for the second time this spring, in order to provide consultancy to the strawberry growers. The expert has identified a lot of unused potential for strawberry growing in our country. According to the expert, the local strawberry growing practices are mostly primary, while research in the field is almost nonexistent.
"Only 10-15% of the strawberry demand existing in Moldova is currently satisfied, Surendra Dara mentions. – It is important for the Moldovan farmers to experiment, get to know, and use technologies from other countries. Large crops are harvested and great profits are made in the U.S., as results of a years-long technological improvement."
Among the basic recommendations provided to the farmers of Moldova those worth mentioning are the suggestions to satisfy the basic needs of the strawberry plants – irrigation, nutrition, and the distance between the plants. Moreover, attention must be constantly paid to the pest and disease control and just-in-time intervention.
Surendra Dara has suggested to the farmers of Moldova to test new strawberry varieties, especially day-neutral ones. These varieties will allow the farmers to deliver product on the market even after the other growers have concluded the harvesting. Moreover, in order to extend the product’s shelf life, the expert recommends compliance with hygiene rules, as well as providing of cooling immediately after harvesting. In the event of future membership in external wholesale and retail chains, Surendra Dara recommends the growers to join associations in order to experiment and develop together.
About 30 businesses are growing strawberries in the Republic of Moldova on a total surface of 50 hectares; there are also many farms with a lot greater surface. The most important strawberry growers are operating in the districts of Soroca, Criuleni and Orhei. The projected average yield per hectare in the year 2011 is of 25-27 tons, 5-6 tons more compared to the last year.
The business consultancy is provided voluntarily to the Moldovan farmers with the support of the Farmer-to-Farmer Program (FTF), implemented in our country by the USAID-funded organization CNFA. FTF is focused on dairy, fruit, and vegetable production and processing throughout value chains. In order to pay visits of up to three weeks to Moldova, the volunteers are selected on a contest basis in the U.S.
For details about the assistance provided with the support of the Farmer-to-Farmer Program please access www.cnfa.md or contact us at info@moldova.cnfa.org. |
