Four American experts will provide free consultancy to Moldovan agribusiness

Between April 12 and April 24, Cathryn Kloetzli, agricultural extension expert at Virginia Tech University, will assist Podgoreni LLC, from Lingura, Cantemir, in initiating vegetable growing in greenhouses. The assistance will be focusing primarily on ensuring knowledge transfers towards the company management and employees on matters of production technologies, including organic production, pest management, and humidity control in greenhouses. Together with the company specialists, Cathryn Kloetzli will also analyze alternative heating and ventilation methods. As the result of the cooperation of the American expert, Podgoreni LLC is hoping to expand its business, increase the number of its employees, and eventually its income.

Diane Twete, doctor of horticulture at the Oregon State University, will be working with the members of the Ungheni Strawberry Growers Group, between April 19 and May 5, in order to improve their growing technologies. For this purpose, Diane Twete will train the growers on matters of soil fertility, and modern methods of strawberry growing. With the assistance of the American expert, the strawberry growers are hoping to increase the number of group members, their production volume, and their income.

Bruce Williams, Doctor of sciences, agronomy and horticulture consultant from the state of North Carolina, will assist the "Pulbere Oleg" farm from Gaşpar, Edineţ, on matters of improving vegetable growing techniques in greenhouses, between April 21 and May 1. The American expert will provide the business with recommendations concerning soil fertility, usage of production inputs, and greenhouse ventilation and heating. The main purpose of the above mentioned assistance is to increase productivity, as well as the production volume in order to eventually generate a higher income for the farm.

Dick Edwards, Doctor of sciences and business consultant, will evaluate the existing market, the competitive environment and the business expanding opportunities for the Agrostoc business cooperative, between April 26 and May 8. Together with the cooperative management, the expert will focus on developing a continuous development strategy for the Agrostoc cooperative. The cooperative representatives believe the assistance provided by the American expert will contribute to the providing of better services, and to the increasing of the members’ number. The assistance will also increase the annual sales, and eventually the Agrostoc business cooperative income.

This year, at least 15 businesses from our country are expected to benefit from free consultancy, provided by 25 American volunteer experts, which have been selected on a contest basis within the "Farmer to Farmer" Program.

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CNFA is an organization for international development from USA, founded in 1985, which is dedicated to increasing rural incomes by empowering farmers and rural entrepreneurs. CNFA activity is focused on agricultural development which is based on the initiatives to facilitate market access, enhance agribusiness competitiveness, increase productivity, and improve access to inputs and credit for businesses. In the Republic of Moldova, CNFA is currently implementing the five-year "Farmer to Farmer" Program, worth $2.5 million, and has recently concluded the $12 million-worth Agribusiness Development Program.

For details please contact Nadejda MOCANU, “Farmer to Farmer” Program Coordinator (tel.:240311, 069260005), nmocanu@moldova.cnfa.org, www.cnfa.md)