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  • Local public authorities have identified investment priorities for climate change adaptation for the agricultural sector

     29.06.2018    2243 Views       

    Public local authorities of the country gathered, yesterday (28th of June 2018) in a workshop, in Chisinau, in order to identify ideas for projects to adapt the agricultural and social sector to climate change and set national investment priorities in that area, in the context of the Republic of Moldova's engagement with the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

    The objective of the workshop was to engage local decision-makers in the process of consulting national investment climate change priorities in the agricultural and related sectors, in the context of the opportunities offered by the world's largest fund to support developing countries in climate change adaptation and mitigation practices, as well as to determine the needs of communities in this regard, in order to identify project ideas that could be funded by the Fund.

    "The Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment (MARDE) initiated the elaboration of a country programme on climate change adaptation and mitigation for our country in order to benefit from projects financed by the GCF. In this regard, the ministry also launched a communication platform and, in its capacity as Designated National Authority, the ministry aims to increase cooperation and communication between institutions that manage climate change affairs to foster the development of a legal framework that will facilitate access to financial sources of this Fund. We also called the local public authorities for a structured dialogue to ask them what are the needs of communities in this matter and what type of projects they would like for their locality", said the head of the Air Pollution and Climate Change Department (MARDE), Veronica Lopotenco in her welcoming message.

    In the context of the agricultural sector climate change adaptation, Boris Boincean, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) consultant, underlined that the agricultural sector is directly and indirectly dependent on climate change, and its influence can be noted through frequent droughts or floods and the risk of spreading diseases to plants, animals, humans. "Also, because the groundwater level is lower and the soil has low capacities to accumulate rainwater, we have soil erosion. More and more often, autumn sowing, fruit trees, vine are compromised due to the lack of snow layer. We need to move to a sustainable farming system, learn to use soil and water resources rationally. As alternative, we have the organic agriculture, precision agriculture and conservative agriculture. We need to re-establish the seed production system by using high quality biological seeds and mixtures of perennial herbs, leguminous and grassy plants in order to improve the soil structure" added Boris Boincean, FAO consultant in agriculture.

    During the discussions, the opportunities offered by the Green Climate Fund, how to cooperate with this financing instrument and the procedure for the promotion of the project proposals were explained.

    "In order to benefit from project financing, the beneficiary must demonstrate the efficiency and the effectiveness of the project, its economic feasibility, its potential for sustainable development, and its rational use of financial resources. The country must demonstrate that it has the capacities to develop, promote and implement such projects. Micro, small, medium and large projects will be financed under the form of grants and loans, shares or guarantees", explained, the Climate Change Office manager Vasile Scorpan.

    During the workshop, LPA representatives discussed the necessary investments for the preservation of natural resources, the practices and knowledge of rural communities regarding the protection of forests and lands and other suggestions needed in the development of the GCF project proposals with a transformative impact.

    At the end, the participants expressed their willingness to cooperate and to identify more feasible project ideas.

    The event was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Climate Change Office.

    29 iunie 2018

    Media information and communication Service of the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment.