Emergency aid programs have been rolled out for Moldovan farmers who suffered devastating effects from severe drought conditions during the summer of 2024. Over 17,000 farmers across 23 regions received urgent support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), funded by both the Austrian Development Agency and the Swiss Government, amounting to $3.6 million aimed at tackling the agricultural challenges resulting from the drought.
Farmers affected by the drought have been provided with more than 400 tons of drought-resistant winter wheat seeds, fertilizers, and specialized training. These measures are not only pivotal for safeguarding the agricultural output of the nation but are also integral to ensuring the country's food security. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAIA) has remarked on the urgency of these interventions—vital for preventing substantial financial losses and ensuring future harvests.
"The support provided not only helped farmers to continue their activities, but also contributed to building a more resilient and productive agricultural sector in Moldova," asserted officials during a workshop held in Chișinău, where the impact of the program was analyzed. Emphasis was placed on the need for rapid and effective responses to climate challenges faced by farmers.
Further supporting the agricultural sector, the Payments and Intervention Agency for Agriculture (APIA) introduced a new support scheme on March 3, 2025, aimed at sheep and goat breeders. Despite the difficulties presented by the previous summer's drought, the initiative recognises those farmers who managed to retain their livestock rather than sell them.
Under this new scheme, farmers across the Mureș region and nationwide can receive 50 euros per eligible animal. According to Constantin Citirigă, spokesperson for APIA Mureș, "This financial support is aimed at breeders of female young livestock, particularly sheep and goats." To qualify, breeders must have maintained at least 50 heads of female livestock, aged between one month and 12 months as of August 31, 2024, and demonstrate they still have an equal number of adult females by the time they submit their requests.
Farmers can submit applications until March 21, with financial assistance being disbursed by the end of April. The scheme provides much-needed financial relief for farmers grappling with the challenging economic fallout from the past summer's climate events. APIA has allocated 239 million lei for this emergency aid, with 108 million lei sourced from non-reimbursable external funds via the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund, supplementing national funding.
This innovative approach to farmer support ensures communities can sustain their livestock and continue their agricultural practices, which are pivotal not only for their livelihoods but also for the resilience of Moldova’s agricultural future. The incoming aid is described by experts as particularly significant during this unprecedented time, as farmers must adapt under challenging climatic conditions and economic realities.
The challenge now is to effectively utilize these resources to stabilize the agricultural sector's short- and long-term health. The steps taken by the FAO and APIA to address the crises of 2024 have been met with widespread recognition, highlighting the importance of support measures aimed at reducing vulnerabilities for farmers. The success of these initiatives could very well serve as a model for future responses to climate-related agricultural crises.