Apply for Moldova's agriculture grants: Deadline December 31
Anyone who meets the eligibility criteria may apply, stated Vasile Șarban, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, during the "Good Morning" program on Moldova 1.
"The call is open, and applications meeting the eligibility criteria are evaluated by the commission. A score is assigned based on our evaluation sheet. If the score exceeds 60, applicants are deemed eligible and may qualify for funding. Several factors determine the grant amount, such as the applicant's contribution and the grant portion," stated the State Secretary.
Vasile Șarban emphasized that the range of services and objectives eligible for funding under this project will continue to expand: "Producers are very open to applying. However, they face challenges in assembling the required documentation and preparing business plans due to insufficient training."
Addressing the risks faced by agricultural producers, the State Secretary highlighted the need for Moldova to transition to modern agricultural practices.
"This transition involves adopting modern technologies, integrating IT solutions in agriculture, using drones for treatments with reduced volumes of plant protection products, GPS-assisted fieldwork, and weather stations that record agro-climatic indicators, such as soil moisture at various depths, and the minimum and maximum temperatures and their duration. Software tools can determine the optimal timing for crop spraying to combat diseases or pests. All operations can be managed remotely, directly from an office," added Șarban.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, since the program's launch in 2022, grants totaling 14.8 million lei (approximately 780,000 USD) have been distributed. During the fifth call for funding, the Evaluation and Selection Commission approved 20 applications, allocating a total of over 185,000 USD, with an average grant value of around 9,300 USD.
The grant program covers part of the costs associated with acquiring agricultural equipment and implementing innovative methods, such as No-Till seed drills, high-performance combines and shredders, water reservoirs, and efficient irrigation systems. These investments aim to promote sustainable resource management and enhance farmers' competitiveness.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
