About 900 farmers from the central Criuleni district will be able to get a better harvest and, respectively, higher revenues. The first irrigation system restored from the funds of the Compact Programme of the U.S. Government, was launched today. Prime Minister Iurie Leanca attended the event together with US Ambassador to Moldova William Moser, representatives of the Compact Programme and farmers.
Access to water will be provided for 778 hectares of farmland. The farmers expressed satisfaction that finally, they would get rid of the effects of drought. “eighty per cent of the fruit composition is made up of water. Therefore, an irrigation system is so important for a competitive agriculture. Now, we will be able to resist drought. If we had this system a few years ago, when there was drought, we would not have had such losses”, a farmer from Criuleni, Mihai Cojocaru, said.
The Compact Programme earmarked 4.7 million dollars for restoring the irrigation system. Nearly half of 900 people, who are holding farmlands, are members of the Irrigation Water Users Association from Criuleni.
The Criuleni-based irrigation system, built 35 years ago, has never been restored, and was working partially. The damaged pumps were replaced by new ones, and buildings for pumping stations were renovated and endowed with automated operation equipment. High-density tubes, meeting the European Union's environmental requirements and with a 50-years exploitation term, were set instead of the asbestos ones.
“Now, we are more resistant to vagaries of nature. The restoration of this irrigation system is a disinterested support of the American nation, meant to modernise Moldovan agriculture. The USA backs the local producer, which will become more competitive on the international markets,” Leanca said.
“Taste of Moldovan fruits and vegetables make the difference. This project is a tribute to Moldovan agriculture. We are with you in European integration you have chosen, including by providing support to development of agriculture”, Moser noted.
The officials tested onsite how the modernised irrigation system works.
Contracts on restoration of ten irrigation systems amounting to about 80 million dollars are signed within the Compact Programme. In November, an irrigation system from Lopatna is to be put into service. Other four systems are under rehabilitation, such as: Jora de Jos, Puhaceni, Roscani and Cosnita, as well as Blindesti, Grozesti, Leova and Chircani-Zirnesti. The systems will be commissioned in first half of 2015.
