In a significant move to bolster Moldova's table grape sector, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has earmarked a $350,000 technical assistance project under the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative. This collaboration was formalized through an agreement signed by Moldova's Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture and Food Industry Minister, Vladimir Bolea, alongside FAO Representative in Moldova, Raimund Jehle.
During the signing ceremony, Bolea highlighted the synergy between this initiative and the government's agenda to foster innovative and sustainable agricultural methodologies. "The implementation of this agreement will help the government improve the entire value chain of the table grapes sector, promoting a smart, sustainable agriculture, resistant to the climate changes, along with the diversification of the local markets and consolidation of the export capacities. I am confident that FAO's expertise would be useful for the producers of table grapes at small scale, who will be able to learn and enforce new technologies and instruments, in order to increase the production and sales," Bolea remarked.
The OCOP Initiative is designed to advance the development of value chains for Special Agricultural Products characterized by unique qualities, geographical denomination, or cultural heritage. Moldova, with an annual grape production exceeding 130,000 tons, of which 60% is exported, stands to significantly benefit from this program.
Source: moldpres.md