Inna Butuchel
The presentation was given by Inna Butuchel, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry. It focused on the actions taken by the Moldovan authorities under Chapter 11 (Agriculture and Rural Development), Chapter 12 (Food Safety, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Policy), and Chapter 13 (Fisheries and Aquaculture) of the relevant Moldova-EU Agreement. MAIA’s program of activities includes the harmonization of the national regulatory framework with European Union legislation, implementation measures, institutional development, and the digitalization of the country’s agri-food sector.
Systems and Registers
One of the topics presented was the development of the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS). This system will serve as a tool through which the Agency for Agricultural Interventions and Payments (AIPA) will manage subsidies to farmers, verify the data in their applications for financial support, and monitor the use of public funds. The system will integrate information on farmers, agricultural land, land parcels, livestock, and financial flows.
In connection with IACS, the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) was also discussed. It will consolidate geodata on agricultural lands and activities related to agricultural land at the regional level. The LPIS will facilitate more accurate recording of registered land and the organization of controls in the payment management process (presumably “per-hectare” subsidies).
Inna Butuchel also presented information on the development of the Farmers’ Registry, which is to be populated with data and put into operation by the end of 2026. The registry will include information on farmers and their agricultural land for the purposes of subsidizing and adjusting agricultural support policies. Thanks to this system, MAIA and AIPA will obtain a structured database on the agricultural sector, necessary for making direct payments (“per hectare” and “per head of livestock”) and managing other state support for Moldova’s agricultural sector.
In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAIA) is working on other systems and registries, such as the Agricultural Accounting Information Network (RICA), which will provide data on the economic activities of agricultural enterprises, as well as the Agricultural Market Information System (SIPA), which will be used to collect and analyze data on prices, volumes, and stocks of agricultural products. The ministry’s agenda also includes improving the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) and the organic farming registry.
The meeting also discussed the preparation of institutions that will manage the administration, verification, and control mechanisms in the areas coordinated by MAFI.
Accreditation of theAIPAAgency
Under Chapter 11 (Agriculture and Rural Development), the AIPA agency must complete the process of preparing for accreditation within the relevant European Union system by the third quarter of 2027. This process includes adjusting internal procedures, developing information systems, training staff, and organizing mechanisms for verifying and monitoring payments in agriculture.
AIPA’s accreditation is linked to the Republic of Moldova’s preparation to manage support provided to the agricultural sector and rural areas under conditions that meet European Union requirements. This step is important in light of the EU’s next multiannual financial framework for 2028–2034, which provides for support to candidate countries and their preparation for accession.
