Japan, UNDP to support Moldova reduce impact of climate changes in agriculture

Chisinau, 15 March /MOLDPRES/ - The government of Japan has announced a contribution of 500,000 dollars for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the enhancement of resilience of Moldova’s agricultural sector to the climate changes and the disasters which hit the activities generating incomes, according to a press release by UNDP issued today.   

„The last years were difficult for the farmers from all over the world, especially for the Moldovan farmers who were hit by the climate changes, especially the drought, as well as by the economic pressure on behalf of Russia, increased prices for raw materials, including because of Russia’s war. I cannot but express a great respect for the way the farmers from Moldova and the entire society managed to cope with such challenges. I feel proud to be with such courageous people. We thank UNDP and other UN agencies and the Agriculture Ministry for involvement in the implementation of this project,’’ Ambassador of Japan to Moldova Yoichiro Yamada said.  

The project, Improvement of human security in Moldova through agro-food resilience to the boosting of external and climate shocks, with duration of one year, will facilitate the access to technologies and expertise for the modernization of the agro-meteorological and hydrological monitoring systems. Thus, decision-makers will improve the quality of data which contribute to the agricultural planning and to the attenuation of the climate dangers and the systems of early warning for the agricultural sector will be consolidated.  

„On the last period, ever more extreme weather phenomena caused by the climate changes have taken place in Moldova. They hit, first of all, the agricultural sector, on which economy, as well as the incomes of the population depends. One of the priorities of this project is the attenuation of the climate risks through the modernization of the network of agro-meteorological and hydrological monitoring. Thus, more reliable data will be available, in order to take well-informed decisions and in due time in the agriculture sector. The partnership between UNDP and Japan contributes to the cutting of the economic losses in the agriculture sector, caused by the natural risks and helps Moldova be more prepared to cope to the climate shocks,’’ UNDP Resident Representative in Moldova Daniela Gasparikova said.      

Also, the State Hydrometeorological Service (SHS) will benefit from support for the modernization of the network of agro-meteorological monitoring – automatic meteorological stations. The existing agro-meteorological posts will be endowed with automated systems of observation with censors, which will watch more variables: speed and direction of wind; air’s temperature and humidity; precipitation, air’s pressure; ultraviolet radiation; duration of sun’s lighting; soil’s temperature; soil’s humidity, width of the snow layer; quantity of water accumulated in leaves; video camera (for weather’s monitoring in real time and the monitoring of the stages of plants’ growing). These will help taking decisions with full knowledge of the case, contributing to the increase in the agricultural productivity, resilience and sustainability.

To enhance the capacities locally, at least seven district centres will be assisted to elaborate plans on adaptation to the climate changes and of reducing the risks to disasters. At the same time, to support the efforts of adaptation to the climate changes, at least 20 representatives of the local public authorities will be informed and trained on how to get financing for climate actions. 

With UNDP’s support, SHS is in a process of reformation, in order to improve its climate services, as the agricultural sector is a priority. The key of improving the likelihood of the forecasts consists in the extension of the network of observations and the integration of all observation points in a unified system. This integration will allow a better coordination and will enhance the accuracy of the forecast.