U.S. Provides Immediate Assistance for Drought-Affected Farmers in Moldova

Peresecina village - September 14, 2007. Drought-stricken farmers across Moldova will receive seeds for the fall planting as part of immediate U.S.  Government assistance worth $350,000 to help alleviate the consequences of this summer’s drought, which has affected small-scale growers.   A recent assessment by the U.N.  Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and U.N.  World Food Program (WFP) identified the need for cereal seeds (mostly wheat, barley and rye) as the most immediate support that farmers require.   In response, the U.S.  Agency for International Development (USAID) will work together with the American organization, Citizens Network for Foreign Affairs (CNFA), and Moldovan farmer associations to provide seeds to farmers as quickly as possible.  An initial ceremony marking the beginning of this seed distribution took place at Peresecina village on September 14.  A total of 325 farmers received 25 tons of winter wheat and barley at the Hajiu Cooperative warehouse. Extremely high temperatures and minimal rainfall during the 2007 summer have led to widespread drought conditions in 28 of Moldova’s 32 raions (regions).  According to a FAO/WFP assessment, 84 percent of Moldova’s arable land is affected by the drought, and the cost of lost cereal crops has reached nearly 300 million euros.  Losses in the livestock sector will likely be even higher, FAO/WFP estimated.

<< Back to the list of recent events