The project is being implemented by People in Need Moldova in partnership with the Slovak organization People in Peril and in collaboration with the “Pomuşoarele Moldovei” Association. The Slovak government provides financial support for this initiative through SlovakAid.
The total budget for BERRIES is approximately 5.5 million lei. As part of the project, five strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry growers in the village of Mana received financial support to invest in weather stations and other agricultural technologies for growing blackberries and currants.
“We are already seeing the benefits of these investments on our farms. Weather stations help us use limited and expensive water resources more efficiently for irrigation, which is extremely important under current climatic conditions. In addition, we have mastered methods for applying biofertilizers, resulting in plants that are healthier in every respect. This gives us confidence that we will achieve a more abundant and higher-quality harvest, as well as enhance the overall resilience of our agribusiness during a period of rapid and adverse climate change,” says Sergiu Ceruş, a local raspberry grower.
Knowledge to the Rescue
As part of the BERRIES project, two agricultural vocational schools—the school in Nisporeni and the agricultural technical college in Svetly — are receiving support to modernize their demonstration plots and implement sustainable agricultural practices.
Specifically, these educational institutions are currently being equipped with irrigation systems, weather stations, and infrastructure to protect plantations—including shading and anti-hail nets. Students and faculty will also have the opportunity to take a study tour of agricultural enterprises and institutions in Slovakia.
“In recent growing seasons, characterized by increasingly hot summers, farmers need effective solutions to adapt to climate change. The BERRIES project offers exactly this kind of support, combining infrastructure investments with practical training and the transfer of best European practices,” said Octavian Olaru, project manager at People in Need Moldova.
According to “Pomuşoarele Moldovei,” there are about 600 berry growers in Moldova, cultivating more than 5,000 hectares of berry plantations.
