The Ivanov family from the village of Malaiesti, Orhei rayon, manages an agricultural business that includes 30 orchards of cherry, apple, plum and nectarine trees, as well as multiannual crops cultivated on an area of over 700 hectares. Over the past decade, the farm has benefited from government subsidies totaling almost one million lei. Prime Minister Dorin Recean visited the farm during a trip to Orhei district, IPN reports.
The business manager, Igor Ivanov, is a second generation farmer, taking over from his father. He said that thanks to the subsidies he has received, he has been able to modernize his machinery and purchase anti-hail protection systems. He recently submitted applications to the Agency for Intervention and Payments for Agriculture to obtain new subsidies to expand his nectarine plantation and purchase a tractor.
Due to spring frosts, the cherry and apple crops have been severely damaged. The fruit will be processed this year mainly into juice. The farmer emphasized the importance of developing irrigation systems, noting that insufficient rainfall can jeopardize crops if effective solutions are not implemented.
In this context, Prime Minister Dorin Recean reiterated that the rehabilitation of centralized irrigation systems is a priority of the Government. He said that, through the IFAD program, agricultural producer groups from the Republic of Moldova can access financing of up to 500 thousand dollars for the development of water distribution infrastructure, according to a press release of the executive.
At present, the Ivanov family farm employs 16 permanent workers, and during seasonal work it employs more than 70 day laborers.