United States to provide Moldova with 21 million dollars for agricultural development

Chisinau, 22 February /MOLDPRES/- The USA will provide Moldova with 21 million dollars in the next five years to develop the national economy by improving agricultural sector.

The money will be earmarked by the US Agency for International Development through the High-Value Agriculture Project in Moldova (APM). The project will focus on expanding trade and strengthening marketing connections, improving productivity, creating post harvest infrastructure and developing private sector capacity to meet international standards.

Prime Minister Pavel Filip said that the project was extremely important to Moldova’s vital branch – agriculture. “The agricultural sector ensures food security of the state and is a traditional branch of the country, in which our citizens are operating. State care is assistance in agriculture, as our products should be competitive both domestically as well as in the EU. We must come up with new technologies, like those who work to make sure that their investments will be reflected through good results and qualitative products. At the same time, this program proves good cooperation with the USA, so we thank you for the support provided over the years. In the past 25 years, Moldova has received 1.4 billion dollars from the USA”, he said.

For his part, US Ambassador to Moldova James Pettit noted that the project aimed at becoming a catalyst of agriculture meant to contribute to economic growth. “Regretfully, import restrictions set by Russia had a devastating impact, so the EU and USA continue to intervene to help Moldova, as farmers can sell on international markets. We find that the share of exports to the EU increased and Moldovan apples are exported to over 20 countries worldwide. At the same time, producers have to increase product quality and ensure food safety. This project will assess export potential of new products and will back people to boost this sector”, he said.

Beneficiaries will be producers of apples, grapes, stone fruits and vegetables, produced in the protected space, and the focus will be on empowering women and young farmers.

The project is implemented by Chemonics International in partnership with several local and international organizations.

(Reporter A. Plitoc, editor L. Alcază)