Assisted by the "Farmer-to-Farmer" Program, Moldovan vegetable growers are benefiting from advanced consultancy on modern growing technologies

Vegetable growers from several localities of Cantemir and Cahul districts have benefited from free consultancy on growing technologies, provided by Cathryn Kloetzli, agricultural extension expert of the Virginia Tech University, from April 12 till April 24. The expert was selected on a contest basis in the United States, at the request of the Moldovan farmers, in order to provide voluntarily assistance within the "Farmer-to-Farmer" Program, implemented in our country by the USAID-funded organization CNFA.

"The consultant has completely changed our vision on how to grow vegetables", Stanislav Balan, director of Podgoreni LTD, from Lingura, Cantemir, states. "Now I am sure we will have a good start in the growing vegetables industry and eventually succeed", Podgoreni LTD director added.

Cathryn Kloetzli states: "Moldovan growers have a fundamental approach of business development. They try to gain all the necessary information about potential risks from the very beginning. To work with beneficiaries who are willing to learn is highly motivating, especially if they are about to initiate businesses according to the acquired practices."

During her visit, the American volunteer has consulted vegetable growers from the villages Lingura, Sadâc and Tartaul (Cantemir), as well as Vadul lui Isac (Cahul). The farmers have stated the provided assistance was a major opportunity for them in order to avoid potential errors when initiating planned activities.

The assistance was mostly focused on modern methods of designing greenhouses, paying particular attention to heat preservation based on optimum location, and also presented several heating methods that require minimum resources, both on the seedling stage, and on the ultimate growing one. The expert has also provided consultancy on matters of preparing the soil for ensuring higher yields, pest management, and organic methods of pest control. The consultancy also focused on seedling production and selection of highly productive and disease resistant varieties.

It is worth mentioning another assignment began in our country recently, carried out by Mr. Bruce Williams, doctor of sciences, agronomy and horticulture consultant from the state of North Carolina. Between April 22 and May 1, the expert will assist several growers from Edineţ district on matters of improving vegetable growing in greenhouses. The recommendations provided by the expert will be mostly focused on soil fertility issues; agricultural inputs usage, as well as greenhouse ventilation and heating. Bruce Williams is already known and highly appreciated by Moldovan farmers. He is conducting regular visits of this kind in our country, including follow-up assignments, in order to evaluate the progresses of the agricultural producers that had benefited from his assistance in the past.

Within the "Farmer-to-Farmer" Program, four American experts were expected to arrive in Moldova in the month of April, in order to provide free consultancy to several agricultural businesses. The consultancy will be mostly focusing on vegetable production, including organic production; modern methods of strawberry growing; increasing soil fertility, greenhouse ventilation and heating; as well as developing continuous development strategies for cooperatives.

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CNFA is an organization for international development from USA, founded 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 credit for businesses. 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.:240311, 069260005), nmocanu@moldova.cnfa.org, www.cnfa.md)