Moldovan farmers align with international standards to be more competitive

Chisinau, 22 December /MOLDPRES/ - Three fruits producers from Moldova for the first time ever have aligned with the international standards SMETA, recognized globally, which confirm the improvement of the ethic practices along the supply chain, beginning with the labour conditions at companies. The performances were assessed at a today’s event with the participation of the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry (MAIA) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).      

The SMETA standards refer to the evaluation of the security practices and the labour conditions, management systems, human rights, implicitly of the right to work, evaluation of environment and ethics in business, helping companies improve the responsible and sustainable business practices. Although the SMETA standards are implemented in other industries in Moldova, these standards have not been implemented in the farming sector for the time being.       

„The certified farmers are ambassadors who promote the implementation of international standards and encourage other producers to meet the international requirements. In the long run, Moldova, as country candidate for accession to EU, must quickly comply with the requirements to which all European producers comply with. Moldova has chances to find a good place on the European market; therefore, the state on this purpose will come with methodological support and financial support though subsidization programmes,’’ a state secretary at MAIA, Vasile Sarban, said.      

Also today, nine producers of apples, plums, apricots and table grapes received GLOBALG.A.P. and GRASP certificates, which confirm the quality and safety of the fruits produced. According to a programme manager at USAID Moldova, Igor Spivacenco, the goal of the Agency’s programmes is to back the efforts of agricultural entrepreneurs to diversify the sales markets and speed up the flow of trade with the EU countries. ‘’In the last years, we have seen the acceleration of the implementation of the commercial standards, which generated investments in the sector and increased the export on international markets. USAID will continue to support the agricultural sector and to recover following the regional crisis through the Rural Competitiveness and Resilience Activity Programme,’’ Spivacenco said.    

So far, about 100 farmers have implemented GLOBALG.A.P. standards and over 40 – GRASP standards. The GLOBALG.A.P. certification enhances the competitiveness of fruits, grapes and vegetables on the international market, being demanded by importers from the European Union and Middle East.