CNFA: Three American experts will provide free consultancy to Moldovan agribusinesses in June

CNFA: Three American experts will provide free consultancy to Moldovan agribusinesses in June

• 15.06.2010

Three American experts will stay in Moldova in June in order to provide local agribusinesses with free consultancy. The assistance will be mostly focused on savings and loans associations’ development and modernization of table grapes and strawberry growing practices. The experts have been selected on a contest basis in the U.S. in order to voluntarily provide consultancy within the Farmer-to-Farmer Program (FtF), implemented in our country by the USAID-funded organization CNFA.

Anthony La Creta is currently an administrator of a credit union from New York and will be working with the Central Association of savings and credit associations between June 14 and June 27 in order to carry out a feasibility study and to develop a three-year action plan for this organization. Together with the Central Association of SCA management the expert will analyze the current situation of the savings and credit associations in Moldova in order to identify opportunities, priorities, and potential resources that are necessary to successfully develop Central Association. Cooperating with the volunteer, the Central association expects to increase the number and the value of its credits, as well as to generate a higher income for the corporation.

Surendra Dara, consultant on strawberry and vegetable growing from the Extension Service of the University of California, U.S., will assist "Agrodor Success" LTD on matters of strawberry growing technologies, between June 12 and June 29. Thus, the expert will train the company employees on matters of irrigation planning, humidity control, soil health and management, harvesting and post-harvesting practices. The consultant will also address the issue of pest management and selection of varieties.
 

Moreover, Paul Read, doctor of horticulture and professor of viticulture at the Linkoln University from the state of Nebraska has assisted Podgoreni LTD, from Lingura, Cantemir from May 27 until June 9. The assistance was mostly focused on advanced table grapes growing technologies and modern practices of vineyard management. The volunteer has trained Podgoreni LTD staff and management on matters of land evaluation, soil fertilization, and the optimum distance between the cuttings when establishing highly productive table grape vineyards.

Overall, at least 15 agribusinesses from the Republic of Moldova are expected to benefit this year from free consultancy, provided on voluntary basis within the Farmer-to-Farmer Program. The consultancy is provided during a period of up to three weeks for two strategic agricultural sub-sectors - production of fruit and vegetables and dairy industry. The estimated value of the consultancy is of almost $1 million.

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The Farmer-to-Farmer Program is implemented in our country since 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.:240311, 069260005), nmocanu@moldova.cnfa.org, www.cnfa.md)