$11 Million Invested in Moldova’s Livestock Sector
Over $11 million has been invested in modernizing farms and improving animal welfare to boost the development of Moldova’s livestock sector. This initiative is supported by a project of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and funded by the European Union (EU). The intervention will help Moldovan farmers comply with EU quality standards, enhance their competitiveness, and adopt sustainable development models.
Between October and November 2024, more than 50 cattle farm owners and aspiring dairy entrepreneurs, including students, received training on EU environmental requirements and animal welfare standards in dairy farming.
More than 20 farms were assessed and advised by experts from the EU-UNIDO project, “Enhancing Compliance with Standards by Strengthening National Residue Monitoring Capacities,” to identify and strengthen their investment potential. By the end of the year, six agricultural enterprises from the districts of Ialoveni, Florești, UTA Găgăuzia, Fălești, and Glodeni had already signed grant contracts under the AGGRI project, financed by the World Bank. These investment projects, worth a total of $11 million—of which approximately $5 million is non-repayable funding—are set to significantly boost businesses. Through precise evaluations and capacity-building efforts, the EU-UNIDO project has increased the chances of farm expansion and modernisation.
The training sessions were particularly valuable as they were delivered in practical settings on livestock farms, facilitating knowledge transfer between experienced farmers and those just starting out. Five companies benefited from coaching sessions on dairy farm management. UNIDO experts provided tailored recommendations on manure management, animal welfare requirements, biosecurity, milking hygiene, and more. Special attention was given to new technologies and regulations on antibiotic use and other pharmaceutical products in milk production.
Now, with financial resources allocated, farmers are ready to invest strategically, ensuring animal welfare, environmental protection, and high-quality dairy production.
“Product Quality Starts with Animal Health”
“Product quality starts with animal health,” says Marian Bîtiu, owner of a cattle farm in northern Moldova and a beneficiary of the project. At “Gifis Farm,” 180 cattle are raised, and all funds accessed through the AGGRI grant will be invested in improving animal housing conditions. This includes a modern ventilation system, an upgraded manure management system with new pumps and a scraper, as well as rubber mats and bedding to enhance cow comfort and reduce the risk of injury.
As part of the investment project, farm operations will be automated, including calf feeding, feed mixing and distribution, and milking. A particular point of pride for Bîtiu is the robotic feeding system and an advanced software programme integrated with the milking robot. This cutting-edge technology, the first of its kind in Moldova, will enable real-time monitoring of cattle health, disease prevention, and overall improvements in animal welfare.
At the farm in Năvîrneț, Fălești district, sustainability will also be enhanced through lower production and processing costs. This will be achieved by using state-of-the-art, energy-efficient equipment sourced from the EU. Furthermore, demonstrating a strong commitment to environmental sustainability, Bîtiu plans to install a photovoltaic park at “Gifis Farm” to significantly reduce CO2 emissions.
Strengthening Small and Medium Enterprises in Moldova
Supporting the capacity of Moldova’s small and medium-sized enterprises to meet European quality standards not only fosters growth but also improves access to essential resources for business development. “We are delighted that, beyond providing training and personalised consultancy, we have helped authorities identify livestock farms ready to move to the next stage of development by making informed investments in animal health and environmental sustainability,” says Dona Școla, National Coordinator of the UNIDO project “Enhancing Compliance with Standards by Strengthening National Residue Monitoring Capacities.”
Context
The livestock sector grant program is part of the “Agriculture Governance, Growth, and Resilience Investment Project” (AGGRI), funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture (AIPA). These funds are allocated for farm modernization, with a particular focus on improving animal welfare conditions and environmental protection. The UNIDO team has provided support to farmers and small and medium-sized producers in the livestock sector to strengthen their ability to comply with EU environmental requirements and animal welfare standards, enabling them to access grants under the AGGRI project.
