During seven years of implementation of the Rural Resilience Project (IFAD VII), Moldovan farmers benefited from support worth about $23 million. These data were communicated on March 27, during the UCIP IFAD Moldova conference examining the achievements, challenges and lessons learned during the implementation of the project and their impact on the beneficiaries in the agricultural field.
The funds were directed, in particular, to increasing the resilience of agricultural enterprises vulnerable to the effects of climate change, as well as to disadvantaged segments of the population in rural areas. The financial infusion from IFAD attracted investments from the beneficiaries, the Government of the Republic of Moldova and partner financial institutions, totaling about $16.7 million.
Attending the event, Andrian Digolean, State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAIA) emphasized the importance of the agricultural sector in the Republic of Moldova, which represented one of the most important employers, providing jobs for approximately 21% of the active population of the country. The official also noted that a large proportion of those returning to the country from the diaspora were interested in engaging in agricultural activities or related fields.
The National Strategy for Agricultural and Rural Development 2023-2030, developed by MAIA, aims to stimulate the initiation and development of agricultural businesses, with an emphasis on the involvement of young people, women entrepreneurs and returned immigrants. To achieve this goal, various measures and programs are implemented, and one of the main actors in this process is UCIP-IFAD.
“Through UCIP-IFAD, various financial facilities and technical assistance are offered for different categories of farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs. These include loans with portions of grants for micro farmers, young farmers and women entrepreneurs, as well as support for young entrepreneurs in business agricultural. According to the evaluations received from different sources, IFAD’s support in the Republic of Moldova was reflected both in the qualitative increase of agricultural production and in the more than 20 thousand jobs created”, Digolean said.
IFAD is an international organization for the implementation of projects aimed at sustainable agricultural development in disadvantaged rural communities around the world. The fund provides financing and technical assistance to help farmers improve their livelihoods and help increase food security globally. (Moldpres)
