Picture: Ripe grapes in Moldova, ESOlex / Shutterstock
This Twinning project successfully supported the development of new legislation and the implementation of the EU’s community-led local development programme LEADER and animal premiums. These two measures have the potential to re-establish the livestock sector on the one hand and develop rural areas of Moldova on the other.
The exercise involved going through the entire process of elaborating the Agricultural and Rural Development Strategy for Moldova (NARDS) 2030. This process led to a better understanding among the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAFI) regarding how EU policymaking functions and the workings of the Common Agricultural Policy. This has become an important asset given Moldova’s new status as an EU candidate country.
With the acquired knowledge on methodologies for data management, data analysis, financial and performance monitoring, and evaluation of agricultural policies, the ministry has more capacity to identify new needs, develop new policies, monitor their impact and respond flexibly to new demands.
During the project, new standard operating procedures were developed to verify the efficiency of official controls and the assess inspectors’ competence.
The first ice cream plant approved for export to the EU has increased the interest of other food business operators (FBOs). To increase export of products of animal origin to the EU, the project organised training sessions for the FBOs on the requirements for exporting poultry meat, eggs and composite products to the EU.
Project title: Further support to agriculture, rural development and food safety
Project ID: MD 16 ENI AG 01 19, 2020-2022