Organic Farmers School launched – a new training platform for the development of organic agriculture in the Republic of Moldova
On 4 August, the Organic Farmers School was launched at the National Institute for Applied Research in Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (IP INCAAMV) – a platform for practical training and exchange of experience, created to bring research closer to farmers and to support the development of organic, resilient agriculture aligned with European standards.
The School was established under the ‘Sustainable Food Systems – Production’ project, financed by the European Union and the Czech Republic and implemented by the Czech Development Agency. The project is part of the Team Europe Initiative ‘Sustainable Food Systems’, while the School is being developed in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry and IP INCAAMV.
The programme will include practical training, field demonstrations and exchanges of experience, giving farmers access to modern technologies and examples of good practices in organic agriculture.
The event brought together representatives of public authorities and development partners, researchers, agricultural producers, students and farmers from different regions of the country.
Participants included both farmers experienced in organic production and people interested in taking their first steps in this field, eager to gain knowledge and develop sustainable agricultural businesses.
Organic Farmers School – a new chapter in Moldovan-Czech cooperation
Attending the event, Jaromír Plíšek, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Republic of Moldova, emphasised that the launch of the Organic Farmers School is a natural continuation of cooperation between the two countries in the field of agriculture.
“I believe that the launch of the Organic Farmers School represents a natural continuation of the long-standing cooperation between the Czech Republic and the Republic of Moldova, which delivers tangible results for the country’s farmers and institutions. The School will serve as a venue for training, exchange of experience and practical demonstrations of modern farming methods,” said Jaromír Plíšek, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Republic of Moldova.
The diplomat recalled that the Czech Republic has supported the development of agriculture in the Republic of Moldova for more than two decades. Over the years, projects have been implemented to develop organic agriculture, strengthen institutional capacities and harmonise legislation with European standards.
According to him, the new project also aims to strengthen the resilience of agriculture to climate change.
Ministry of Agriculture: research must respond to farmers’ needs
Rodica Reșitca, Head of the Agricultural Research, Training and Advisory Service within the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, emphasised that the new school was created to respond to farmers’ needs.
“The Organic Farmers School is a necessary initiative dedicated first and foremost to farmers. It was created to help them find solutions to the challenges they face in their work and to strengthen cooperation
between farmers and researchers,” said Rodica Reșitca, Head of the Agricultural Research, Training and Advisory Service within MAFI.
First training sessions begin in September
The Organic Farmers School will become operational this autumn. Ana Kremenic, Project Manager representing the Czech Development Agency, announced that the first training sessions will begin in September.
“Training sessions at the Organic Farmers School will begin in September. One of the main topics will be soil quality, a crucial issue for agriculture in the Republic of Moldova that requires significant improvement. Through these training sessions, we want to provide farmers with practical knowledge and solutions that can be applied directly in their work,” said Ana Kremenic, Project Manager, Czech Development Agency.
Transferring research results to farmers
Beyond the theoretical component, the organisers intend the School to facilitate the transfer of research results to farmers and provide practical solutions to problems encountered in the field.
This was also confirmed by Vasile Niculiță, a researcher with the Department of Organic Products and Climate Change Adaptation Measures at IP INCAAMV and a certified organic vegetable producer.
“The Organic Farmers School was created to give farmers access to practical information and the latest research findings. We want farmers to be able to test and apply modern technologies on their own farms and, through direct cooperation with researchers, find solutions to the problems they face in their daily work,” said Vasile Niculiță.
Vera Druță: “In agriculture, we are always learning”
Among the participants was Vera Druță, a certified organic fruit and vegetable producer from the village of Brăila, Chișinău municipality. Although she has worked in organic agriculture for several years, she says that experience does not mean the learning process ever ends.
“A school like this is very welcome. Even when we have experience, in agriculture we are always learning, and climate change constantly requires us to find new solutions. We have faced many challenges and have often learned from our own mistakes. For young people who want to start an organic farming business, this School will provide important support,” said Vera Druță, a certified organic fruit and vegetable producer.
Young people see the Organic Farmers School as a learning opportunity
The new initiative has also attracted the interest of young people preparing for a career in agriculture.
Piotr Caraman, a master’s student in Horticultural Sciences and responsible for the university’s teaching greenhouse, believes that access to practical experience and researchers’ expertise can help future farmers avoid many common mistakes at the start of their careers.
“The idea behind this School is very good because it gives farmers useful information directly from specialists. It is particularly important for young people starting out in agriculture, as it can help them avoid many mistakes and learn from the experience of those already working in the field,” said Piotr Caraman.
With the support of the European Union and the Czech Republic, the Organic Farmers School creates a direct link between research and practice and helps farmers adopt environmentally friendly solutions that are resilient to climate change and aligned with European standards.
This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union (EU). Its content represents the sole responsibility of the Team Europe Initiative ‘Sustainable Food Systems’, financed by the EU and the Czech Republic and implemented by the Czech Development Agency, Solidarity Fund PL in Moldova, and the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre.
The content of the publication belongs to the authors and does not necessarily reflect the vision of the above-mentioned partners.
