Director of Moldova's Center for Agricultural and Rural Counseling says informs farmers how to invest efficiently

The first edition of the Financiers' Fair for Agriculture and Rural Development – AgroFin Moldova 2025, will take place in three regions of the country in next May-June. The event is organized by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Counseling, under the aegis of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAIA), and aims to facilitate farmers' access to information and financial resources available for investments in agriculture and rural development.

MOLDPRES discussed with Carolina Chiper, Director of the Center for Agricultural and Rural Counseling, about this first-time event.

MOLDPRES: Where did the initiative for this fair come from?

Carolina Chiper: The need for such a fair arises from the reality that many agricultural producers do not have a clear and complete picture of the present funding opportunities and consequently fail to leverage the financial support tools that could assist in their development.

MOLDPRES: With little time left until May, what stage are you at now?

Carolina Chiper: We are in the midst of preparations, negotiating with potential partners. It is the first time we are organizing such a fair in Moldova and we want it to go well. Commercial banks, international organizations providing funds for agriculture, as well as state institutions known for supporting business development: AIPA (Agency for Intervention and Payments for Agriculture), ADMA (Agency for Development and Modernization of Agriculture), and ODA (Organization for Entrepreneurship Development), will be present.

MOLDPRES: What will farmers find at this fair?

Carolina Chiper: We want the farmer who comes to the fair to leave with things clarified: what programs exist, where to go, what documents are needed. We realize how complicated it is for a farmer, especially in the peak work season, to leave everything and come to Chisinau. Therefore, we will travel to three regions of the country. We hope it will succeed, and if it is well-received in the territory, we will organize it annually.

MOLDPRES: How were the locations for the event selected?

Carolina Chiper: The event will take place in three distinct regions, in order to facilitate the participation of as many farmers as possible: May 15 – Balti; May 30 – Chisinau; June 6 – Cahul. However, more information on locations, programs, and how to participate will be communicated in the near future.

The Public Institution, Center for Agricultural and Rural Counseling (CCAR), is a budgetary entity under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry of Moldova, created through the reorganization of the former Methodological Center for Education. CCAR aims to create a bridge between farmers and the resources necessary for the sustainable development of agriculture.

The main task of the Center for Agricultural and Rural Counseling is to develop a functional agricultural counseling system, which provides farmers access to technical, economic, financial and managerial information. Also, the center focuses on organizing training programs and facilitating access to funding and subsidies.

CCAR conducts its activities in several key areas, including:

• Technical and economic counseling: Supporting farmers in planning and optimizing agricultural activities.

• Training programs: Organizing training sessions to improve farmers' skills.

• Coordination and partnerships: Facilitating collaborations between farmers, research institutions and economic entities.

• Promoting innovation: Transferring technologies and best practices to enhance the competitiveness of the agricultural sector.

CCAR addresses specific challenges in the agricultural sector, including limited access to consultancy services and financial resources. By directly contracting consultants, CCAR aims to reduce costs and improve the efficiency of the services provided.

Correspondent: Lilia Grubii