Over 8,000 farmers from the Republic of Moldova whose activity is affected by the impact of the war in Ukraine will be helped to overcome the consequences. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), together with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will implement until 2024 a project with a budget of two million euros, financed by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) through the Moldova 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Partnership Fund.
According to UNDP, the Emergency support for agricultural producers in the context of the socio-economic and energy crisis project targets small producers, especially women and young people who manage an agricultural business. Thus, small farmers will benefit from free seeds, seedlings and animal feed. They will also be helped to use innovative technologies in agriculture to better withstand climate and economic crises.
As part of the project, a lot of informative materials and guides for the correct management of the production process will be set up, which will be distributed together with the seeds. In order to ensure the transfer of knowledge and the continuous development of farmers’ capacities, experience exchange platforms will be created at the local level, as farmer field schools.
At the same time, female entrepreneurs will be encouraged to implement transition solutions to energy from renewable sources and apply energy efficient technologies. The project will offer, through the UNDP, 30 grants for carrying out the initiatives. In addition to the non-refundable financial aid, female entrepreneurs will also benefit from a complex capacity building program.
The project also aims to develop the capacities of local environmental NGOs. 15 NGO representatives will benefit from an intensive training program supported by UNDP and will later become local trainers for 1000 small producers. To promote sustainable agricultural practices, a database of women entrepreneurs in the agricultural field will be created in the project’s beneficiary localities and Women’s Clubs will be set up.
According to the estimates of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, the war in Ukraine could cost the economy 2-10% of the total GDP of the country, depending on the duration, intensity and territorial coverage. (Moldpres/Business World Magazine)
