Greenhouse Vegetable Production Opens New Development Opportunities for Small Farmers

ADP helps a family farm implement modern technology to produce high-quality vegetables by offering consultancy, international study visit and financial support

A main pillar of Moldova's long term agricultural development is increasing the competitiveness of its High Value Agricultural sector and strengthening the capacity of small local growers to supply high quality fruits and vegetables on the domestic and export markets. The existing opportunities for a successful agricultural production are often hindered by the realities of the country’s transition to a free market economy and the difficulties associated with this process. Limited access to capital resources and the consequent financial constraints in applying the modern production practices have affected negatively Moldova’s agricultural potential and contributed to a substantial penetration of specified foreign agricultural imports on the local market.

Realizing that greenhouse vegetable production will result in earlier harvests in the spring and later harvests in the fall, when prices are higher, Mr. Stefan Chitoroaga, a 4^th generation resident of Sipoteni village and a dedicated farmer, has decided to reorient his traditional open field production to a more profitable practice. It all started when Mr. Chitoroaga visited Turkey on an Agribusiness Development Project (ADP) International Study Tour in March 2005, where he received hands-on training on vegetable production in protected areas. Following his return home, Mr. Chitoroaga’s ambition and hard work, complemented by a matching grant from ADP funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), have led to a successful establishment of over 1,000 m2 of greenhouse areas for tomato, sweet pepper and eggplants.

The use of highly productive hybrids and modern drip irrigation systems currently allows the company to produce vegetables from mid-spring to early fall. In addition to the improved quality of vegetables, the products are now harvested two weeks earlier compared to the previous years and ensure a 30-40% higher price by meeting early season consumer demands.

Mr. Chitoroaga is optimistic about the future of his community, where he was able to generate six new jobs and the future of Moldova’s agriculture as a whole: "I want to continue to invest in vegetable production. I hope my example is replicated in this raion and in other parts of Moldova because there's a huge demand for locally grown vegetables, and our domestic outputs are too low to meet that demand".

USAID/CNFA's Agribusiness Development Project aims to increase the competitiveness of Moldova's High Value Agricultural sector with the ultimate goal of increasing incomes and creating new jobs in rural areas.

Photo caption: Tomatoes produced in the Stefan Chitoroaga FF greenhouses are grown using the most modern production practices to ensure a premium quality product.