Food and Agriculture Organization to back Moldovan farmers to attenuate effects of war in Ukraine

Chisinau, 11 April /MOLDPRES/ - The United nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will carry out an emergency assistance project to back small farmers in Moldova, at a request by the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry (MAIA). The project has an initial investment of 500,000 dollars and the support is to be increased through cooperation with other international donors.  

„The real sector from Moldova now faces multiple challenges triggered by the consequences of the war in Ukraine, by the increase in prices for energy and by the unfriendly weather conditions and over 70 per cent of the farmers are vulnerable to these shocks. Although the government has mobilized internal and external support, it has no capacity to back all farmers in getting more advantageous prices for purchasing fertilizers, seeds and fuels needed for the spring campaign,’’ Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Viorel Gherciu said.    

Though FAO’s support, small farmers will benefit from seeds for crops for the average and late spring sowing age (maize, sunflower, soy) and the vulnerable family mini-farms and the households from the rural areas will receive assistance in form of concentrated fodder for feeding animals. FAO will provide the Agriculture Ministry with assistance for assessing the impact and planning the response to crisis.     

„FAO attentively monitors the situation in the country and we are with Moldova’s government, in order to help diminish the difficulties through which the residents from rural zones are going now. We have to goal to enhance the resistance of the agro-food sector to threats and crises, in order to anticipate potential risks to the food security nationally,’’ FAO Representative in Moldova Raimund Jehle said.     

According to the FAO official, taking into account the ever higher dependence of the agricultural sector on the import of foods, fertilizers and agro-chemical products, it necessary to support the farmers in facilitating the access to inputs and strengthen the national capacities of internal production.  

Also, FAO carries out in Moldova, in partnership with the competent ministry, another ten technical assistance projects worth 3.5 million dollars, for strengthening a sustainable agriculture and resistant to the external challenges, including the ones triggered by the climate changes.   

Photo: FAO