Supported by the Farmer-to-Farmer Program, Moldovan growers are implementing advanced strawberry growing technologies June 29, 2010
Several farmers from Moldova have recently initiated strawberry growing modernization activities, according to the American practices. For this very purpose, between June 12 and June 29, more than 25 Moldovan growers, including growers of Transnistria region, have benefited from free consultancy on the matter, provided by the American expert Surendra Dara, strawberry and vegetable growing consultant from the Extension service of the University of California, USA. The assistance was provided with the support of the Farmer-to-Farmer Program, implemented in our country by the USAID-funded organization CNFA.
"The vegetable growers don’t currently apply and probably don’t even know all the modern technologies that focus on increased productivity; although they are very receptive to the assimilation and the implementation of these changes", Surendra Dara states. "A major role in this process would be assigned to the scientific institutions in the field, which are to perform the necessary experiments in order to identify the optimum conditions for strawberry growing in the Republic of Moldova", the American expert declares.
Surendra Dara believes there are many wasted opportunities in Moldova on matters of strawberry growing, one being the fact that the fresh products supply does not cover the demand. The major recommendations of the expert are related to: the purchasing of varieties that bear fruit during 12 weeks, compared to two to tree weeks fruit bearing varieties currently used, and the purchasing of virus-free seedling material. Moreover, the consultant suggests to the strawberry growers decreasing the distance between the plants, to use methods that exclude soil contact for the fruit to remain clean, to monitor pests and diseases, and to sort, calibrate and cool product at the harvesting stage.
The strawberry growing consultant was selected on the contest basis in the United States in order to provide assistance on strawberry growing technologies to the "Agrodor Success" LTD as a host business, as well as to a certain number of farmers that have asked for support. Thus, the volunteer has consulted Moldovan farmers on matters of irrigation planning, humidity control, soil health and management, harvesting and post-harvesting practices, etc.
During the month of June, three American experts have visited Moldova in order to provide local agribusinesses with free consultancy on matters of savings and loans’ associations’ development, as well as on matters of modernizing production practices for strawberries and table grapes.
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The Farmer-to-Farmer Program is implemented in our country from the year 1999 and has been prolonged in the years 2003 and 2008. In the last 10 years, 20.000 local beneficiaries were provided with assistance in order to increase the competitiveness of the agricultural sector of Moldova, create more employment opportunities, and raise the population income. In our country, 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.: 022 24-03-11, 069 260-005, nmocanu@moldova.cnfa.org, www.cnfa.md) | 
