Moldovan agribusinesses get market information with a click

A free internet-based market information system helps Moldovan farmers learn about the requirements of potential export markets

Immediately after independence Moldova continued to focus its agriculture exports on CIS markets, following old links and using its extensive knowledge of eastern markets.. But doing business the old way became increasingly problematic as the CIS markets became attractive for highly competitive international companies. As a result, Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian consumers are becoming more and more quality-driven in their purchasing choices and Moldovan producers keep their traditional export markets only when complying with international quality and marketing standards. Other factors influencing Moldovan agribusiness exports include the non-economic impediments now enforced in some of the traditional markets. This means that Moldova is also re-orienting its high value exports to EU markets that also require adherence to international food quality and safety standards.

In order to help Moldovan producers find up-to-date information on quality standards and other important information for traditional and new export markets, the Agribusiness Development Project, financed by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by CNFA^® launched, in 2006, an internet based Market Information System (MktIS) ‘Export Moldova’ http://export.acsa.md

Export Moldova was launched with cooperation from the National Agency for Agricultural and Rural Development (ACSA), and the Moldovan Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry. It is a free-of-charge, easily accessed website that provides updated information on Moldova’s strategic export products and markets.

Information and links are provided for fruit and vegetable varieties in demand, packaging options and packaging suppliers, EU marketing and quality requirements, tariff rates for fresh products, and product prices in regional and international markets. In order to give Moldovan growers further insight into the global fruit and vegetable industry, links are provided to leading producers’ web-sites worldwide. A photograph gallery shows the presentation and quality of products from many competitor countries. The list of ADP clients and their products is included on the web-site.

In order to increase Moldovan growers’ awareness of the website a press-launch was organized, hosted by Moldova’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry and a series of presentations and training sessions were held for agricultural producers and processors in 11 regions. They were attended by over 200 leading farmers, managers and agribusiness associations’ representatives. Special presentations were also organized for Government officials, ACSA and UniAgroProtect Agribusiness Association consultants, and students and faculty from the State Agricultural University.

Export Moldova was successfully designed to allow easy exploring and sourcing of information necessary for growers; surveys reveal that 76% of first-time internet users are easily able to find the information they require.

In the six months since its launch, Export Moldova has received more than 25,000 hits, 60% from Moldova, with an average 16 repeat visits per user. The remaining hits come from over 58 countries worldwide; 650 hits from overseas visitors were to the list of products produced by ADP client companies..

The survey that we made with local producers showed that the lack of information regarding potential export markets is a primary cause for not exporting. The training provided by ADP on using Export Moldova is a timely answer to their demand. Natalia Ciubaci, Market Specialist, Asproagro Association

Photo caption: Farm managers from Balti using ‘EXPORT MOLDOVA’, during a training session organized by ADP.