Going organic through innovation
Agriculture is the main sector of Moldovan economy, subjected to a change in practices from the communities and businesses and directly affected by climate change. While bringing great benefits for people´s livelihoods, Moldovan conventional agriculture also brings a significant impact on the environment associated with soil degradation and water and air pollution. Our project is aiming to address the following problems:
? Lack of sustainable agricultural practices including land and soil fertility management (such as crop rotations, use of organic fertilizers etc.) leading to loss of organic matter, erosion and decline of the yields of crops.
? Inadequate animal manure management, mainly storage and handling of manure resulting in soil, water and air pollution, nutrient losses and contributing to increased CHG emissions.
? Excessive use of chemicals due to poor fertilizer management causing pollution of water catchments and groundwater resources and having a significant impact on health.
? Poor organic waste management leading both to wasting of useful resources and air and soil pollution, generated by: burning crop residues from agricultural production and other vegetal material; illegal waste dumps for household waste affecting soil, water and air.
These challenges are mostly caused by lack of knowledge and skills, access to inputs, technologies or finance. In order to address them, the project will use innovative technology for turning organic waste into a valuable resource (organic fertilizer - compost), while developing best practices with the participation of main stakeholders of the communities (Local Public Administration, Civil Society Organisations, farmers and inhabitants). The project will be implemented in 6 village communities: Cuhurestii de Sus (Floresti), Ghindesti (Floresti), Oliscani (Soldanesti), Vascauti (Floresti), Iorjnita (Soroca) and Logofteni (Falesti), districts of Moldova where People in Need established a cooperative of organic farmers.
For contributing to systemic change and long-term sustainability, the project brings together:
a. Use of innovative technology by equipping the cooperative with the proper machinery, skills and know-how for making compost by collecting and using the manure and organic waste existing within the communities. By investing in the cooperative, instead of private individuals, we support b. the cooperation between organic farmers, while strengthening their capacity for bigger scale investments and higher market outreach. At the end of the project, we aim at increasing the size, capacity and productivity of the cooperative, but also at highlighting it as a good practice example in order to replicate the model around the country.
The project focuses on placing c. Community participation in the centre of changing agro-ecological practices by raising awareness within the communities with regards to current and foreseen problems affecting the agricultural land, improving knowledge and supporting local initiatives for finding solutions, increase involvement and active participation in planning and decision making process.
Inhabitants will be supported to become active participants in identifying environmental challenges that affect their agricultural land and develop plans to tackle them together with LAs and CSOs.
In the same time, local farmers will be able to participate in d. capacity building activities regarding ecological management of their agricultural land. The main focus will be given to practices improving general soil health to restore the soil fertility and ensure good yields for farmers as well as supporting farmers in development of sustainable business models and access finance and subsidies.
A pilot compost program will be implemented with 15 households from each village collecting their vegetal waste and manure, providing it to the cooperative and receiving organic fertilizer in return.
Furthermore, we will e. increase the level of expertise at the local and national level, relating to composting, by creating a large business scale model involving business and communities. The results will be shared with Ministry of Agriculture, local authorities, science institutions, college/university teachers (mostly women) and students (youth), NGOs providing extension services as well as any other relevant actors.
? Lack of sustainable agricultural practices including land and soil fertility management (such as crop rotations, use of organic fertilizers etc.) leading to loss of organic matter, erosion and decline of the yields of crops.
? Inadequate animal manure management, mainly storage and handling of manure resulting in soil, water and air pollution, nutrient losses and contributing to increased CHG emissions.
? Excessive use of chemicals due to poor fertilizer management causing pollution of water catchments and groundwater resources and having a significant impact on health.
? Poor organic waste management leading both to wasting of useful resources and air and soil pollution, generated by: burning crop residues from agricultural production and other vegetal material; illegal waste dumps for household waste affecting soil, water and air.
These challenges are mostly caused by lack of knowledge and skills, access to inputs, technologies or finance. In order to address them, the project will use innovative technology for turning organic waste into a valuable resource (organic fertilizer - compost), while developing best practices with the participation of main stakeholders of the communities (Local Public Administration, Civil Society Organisations, farmers and inhabitants). The project will be implemented in 6 village communities: Cuhurestii de Sus (Floresti), Ghindesti (Floresti), Oliscani (Soldanesti), Vascauti (Floresti), Iorjnita (Soroca) and Logofteni (Falesti), districts of Moldova where People in Need established a cooperative of organic farmers.
For contributing to systemic change and long-term sustainability, the project brings together:
a. Use of innovative technology by equipping the cooperative with the proper machinery, skills and know-how for making compost by collecting and using the manure and organic waste existing within the communities. By investing in the cooperative, instead of private individuals, we support b. the cooperation between organic farmers, while strengthening their capacity for bigger scale investments and higher market outreach. At the end of the project, we aim at increasing the size, capacity and productivity of the cooperative, but also at highlighting it as a good practice example in order to replicate the model around the country.
The project focuses on placing c. Community participation in the centre of changing agro-ecological practices by raising awareness within the communities with regards to current and foreseen problems affecting the agricultural land, improving knowledge and supporting local initiatives for finding solutions, increase involvement and active participation in planning and decision making process.
Inhabitants will be supported to become active participants in identifying environmental challenges that affect their agricultural land and develop plans to tackle them together with LAs and CSOs.
In the same time, local farmers will be able to participate in d. capacity building activities regarding ecological management of their agricultural land. The main focus will be given to practices improving general soil health to restore the soil fertility and ensure good yields for farmers as well as supporting farmers in development of sustainable business models and access finance and subsidies.
A pilot compost program will be implemented with 15 households from each village collecting their vegetal waste and manure, providing it to the cooperative and receiving organic fertilizer in return.
Furthermore, we will e. increase the level of expertise at the local and national level, relating to composting, by creating a large business scale model involving business and communities. The results will be shared with Ministry of Agriculture, local authorities, science institutions, college/university teachers (mostly women) and students (youth), NGOs providing extension services as well as any other relevant actors.
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Project Snapshot
Grantee:
AO Reprezentanta in Republica Moldova a Organizatiei ?People in Need? din Republica Ceha
Country:
Moldova
Area Of Work:
Land Degradation
Grant Amount:
US$ 5,000.00
Co-Financing Cash:
Co-Financing in-Kind:
Project Number:
MDA/SGP/OP5/Y8/STAR/LD/2019/26
Status:
Satisfactorily Completed
Project Characteristics and Results
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SGP Country office contact
Mr. Denis Parea
Phone:
+373 22 839-876
Fax:
+373 22 839-876
Email:
Address
65 Stefan cel Mare Blvd., of. 511
Chisinau, MD-2001
Chisinau, MD-2001
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