Moldovian Producers Learn How to Become Competitive in Export Markets from Turkish Farmers With only 200 hectares of vegetable production under controlled environments, Moldovan farmers have a lot to learn from their Turkish counterparts who cultivate over 53,000 hectares under greenhouses and plastic tunnels.
May 25, 2005
A group of ten Moldovan vegetable farmers and exporters spent 11 days in the Adana and Antalya regions of Turkey learning first-hand what it takes to become competitive in export markets: cost-efficient production technologies, modern use of high-yield varieties, distribution channels, and most importantly a good understanding of market demand. Funding for this trip was provided by the U.S Government through USAID’s Agribusiness Development Project (ADP) implemented by CNFA, a US-based agribusiness development firm.
 Although only 5% of its total vegetable output is delivered to markets outside of the country, Turkey is one of the largest exporters of table quality fresh vegetables to Europe, Russia and CIS countries. In Moldova, for example, Turkish products represented 20% of agricultural imports in 2004. Even though Moldova’s climate and fertile soil offer better vegetable growing conditions than in Turkey, Moldovan farmers still don’t have the capacity to supply adequate quantities of vegetables to meet the demands of local and regional markets. Moldovan farmers can easily compete with Turkish producers if they understand market trends and apply modern production and marketing practices, such as tunnel technology, drip irrigation, and the use of high-yield varieties.
ADP is developing high value agricultural production projects in Moldova by co-funding investments in new technologies and helping producers forge market linkages. Other projects include the development of processing facilities that provide farmers with sorting, grading, packing and storage services that add value to the product before it reaches the market.
ADP increases the competitiveness of Moldova’s high-value agricultural sector, by boosting its export potential and trade performance. ADP provides grants and technical assistance that match local entrepreneurs’ investments in expanding and improving production capacity. During the next four years, ADP will provide approximately 240 grants to producers, processors and exporters of high-value agricultural products, in addition to technical assistance targeting improvements in technology, new market access, image building and capacity strengthening. | 
