Moldova: Sustainable livelihoods and environment

The dairy industry is a key sector for the domestic economy in the Republic of Moldova. However, since Moldova’s independence in 1991, milk production has been in constant decline. The decline is caused by difficulties within the milk production process, quality control, veterinary services for animals and coordination of market players. People in Need (PIN), with financial support from the Czech Development Agency, launched the MILK project to support this strategic sector to develop good domestic economic conditions. MILK’s objective is to improve the economic conditions for small and medium-sized cattle farmers in Moldova by strengthening the dairy sector’s efficiency and value chain. Attention is also directed at applying a modern approach to developing market systems and harnessing the knowledge and potential of experts from the Czech Republic and Moldova. MILK will be implemented in the northern districts because around 50 % of the total milk produced in the country is produced there. Meanwhile, the project aims to facilitate farmers' access to veterinary assistance, pasture and quality fodder, and training services. The project will also run an information campaign targeting cattle farmers on good dairy farming practices.

This project aimed to respond to challenges and problems existing in the region related to the migration of labour force, insufficiency of employment opportunities, disparity between the offer of colleges and universities and labour market demands, as well as lack of business infrastructure. The main focus was to support start-ups and business incubators in the Northern region in order to create conditions for closer cooperation among small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and to expand the sector of SMEs in the region. 

The project helped to create three sectorial business associations and assisted their development. It provided support to business incubators in the towns of Soroca and Sîngerei and capacity building of their residents; mentorship, coaching by international experts, and micro grants to local SMEs and start-ups. The project team also worked on strengthening the position of Regional Development Agency North (RDA North) in providing services for entrepreneurs regarding investments and business development, on facilitating the connection between higher education and business sector, as well as on improving the information sharing for rural businesses through local public authorities. 

All project activities were implemented by People in Need Moldova together with project partners RDA North and NGO ‘Pro Cooperare Regională’. 

PIN focused on developing and unifying the educational program in the field of wine-making. We cooperated with three agricultural colleges and the Ministry of Agriculture. PIN supported the improvement of the college facilities, provided training for teachers and organized study visits to the Czech Republic for them

Our goal was to secure continual presence of agricultural products from small and medium-sized farmers on the local market. The aim was to ensure food safety and improve the quality of life of these producers. PIN helped the cooperatives to optimize their existing conditions and business strategies. We provided them with know-how in the area of management and marketing of agricultural products. 

 

Since 2011, People in Need has been supporting the development of organic agriculture in Moldova, aiming at building up the sector for exports as well as for the domestic market. To achieve this, PIN has been partnering with different stakeholders such as local organizations (EtnoGastronomica, MOVCA) that promote organic agriculture in the country and private companies (PROBIO and PROGRAIN Organic) with whom we worked on developing organic agriculture knowledge and for whose farmers we provided intensive trainings on organic agriculture techniques and certification principles and procedures.  
 
To build up in-country knowledge on organic agriculture, PIN has developed a curriculum for farmers and has trained a group of more advanced learners on organic agriculture with the help of international experts. Small grants were also part of our strategy to help the organic sector develop and provide an opportunity for organic growers to invest in needed equipment.