In Moldova the season of sweet strawberries is the whole year

In Moldova the season of sweet strawberries is the whole year

Challenge

Moldova's domestic fruit and vegetable retail market offers tremendous opportunities for local producers of high value agricultural crops. While Moldovan farmers have always enjoyed good climate and soil conditions for expanding berry production, the success in this field is contingent upon a consistent supply of high-quality product at a competitive price. Until recently the supermarket chains and the wholesale markets didn’t have a local strawberry provider that could deliver stable supplies of high-quality products from early spring to late fall. Moldovan producers lack understanding of quality standards and modern production methods, which are crucial in competing with fresh product imports. Usually the strawberries are grown in open fields and their quality depends on the caprices of nature. This practice lets the farmers sell only during the season, in May and June, when prices are low due to overproduction.

Initiative

To strengthen Moldova's competitiveness in the high quality fruit and vegetable sector, both on domestic and export markets, the USAID/CNFA's Agribusiness Development Project supported the establishment of the first modern strawberry production site in the town of Criuleni. Benefiting from the assistance of USAID/CNFA specialists, the Dutch-Moldovan joint venture Interconsult-MD became the first company in Moldova to implement intensive commercial production of strawberries, including use of raised beds, mulching, drip irrigation, high and low tunnels and off-season greenhouse production. The official opening ceremony of Interconsult-MD new facility was held on June 23, 2006 when the project had already proved its success. The event was a moment of joy and pride for the local public authorities, academic circles, regional extensive services, as well as other berry producers and processors interested in replicating this successful venture.

Results

The 9-ha plantation is the first intensive strawberry operation in Moldova providing for a substantial supply of high quality fresh berries on the Chisinau and regional markets. The consistency in implementing modern technology, complemented by using selected strawberry varieties, ensure a stable supply of fresh produce from May to October and an output of approximately 15-20 tons/ha. The average yield of non-intensive berry operations at other producers in Moldova is 3 tons/ha. In addition to creating 60 news jobs and hosting field training events for other berry producers, Interconsult-MD's efforts demonstrate once again that Moldova's capitalization on its agricultural development potential resides in the small- and medium-scale HVA agribusiness enterprises ready to meet consumer demands and market standards. By supporting such model enterprises, USAID/CNFA's Agribusiness Development Project seeks to achieve its overall objective of increasing incomes and creating new jobs in rural areas through improved competitiveness of Moldovan agribusinesses.

Quote:

The off-season product sells on the domestic market for as much as six times the price of regular strawberries, while production and post-harvest technologies guarantee an excellent quality of the output, which also implies better sales returns.
                                            -- Gheorghe Uncu, Interconsult-MD director

Photo caption: Here you are! Moldovan producers start implementing modern technology to grow strawberries like that from March to October.