Today, more than 30 farmers from across the country, members of the Community of Practices in Climate-Smart Agriculture, gathered in the northern region to learn and share experiences in the field of conservation agriculture. The event was highlighted by a field visit to two model farms, owned by farmers Veaceslav Ciornii from Cupcini and Dumitru Gaidău from Nicoreni.
The farmers present at the event had the opportunity to witness the impressive results of the work of the two host farmers with their own eyes. The ready-to-harvest corn, emerging rapeseed and winter wheat as well as sunflowers as the second crop aroused the admiration of all participants.
Participants, whether experienced farmers or those just beginning to adopt NoTill technology, had the chance to ask questions, make observations, and compare conservation agriculture practices. The conclusions drawn emphasized the importance of adaptability in conservation agriculture, where the rules are relatively flexible and depend on several factors.
Igor Pascari, a farmer from Camenca district, emphasized, "I believe this is our future, conservation agriculture. Here, there are no strict rules, only recommendations, because everything is relative. You must adapt to the terrain, the surrounding temperature, and the moisture level to achieve higher yields in the future."
Farmers also addressed the challenges of 2023, posing dozens of questions for which they received immediate answers. Mihail Rurac, the moderator of the Community of Practices in Climate-Smart Agriculture, stressed the importance of field visits as an effective method of learning agricultural practices, offering farmers the opportunity to observe technologies in action.
Veaceslav Ciornii, a farmer from Cupcini and President of the Community, added, "I believe this practice is suitable for young people who want to work less but analyze more. The youth are passionate about technology, have access to more sources of information, and, consequently, have significant potential for the progress of conservation agriculture."
A major point of interest in discussions was cover crops, which have the capacity to protect the soil from erosion and improve it. The exchange of experiences was considered essential by farmers for the present and, more importantly, for the future of the Republic of Moldova.
This meeting of farmers represents a significant step in promoting climate-smart agriculture in Moldova and highlights the enormous potential of conservation practices. Farmers from across the country were inspired and motivated to confidently approach the future of agriculture by adapting to new technologies and practices that prove their effectiveness in soil conservation, climate change adaptation, and increasing yield.
These visits were conducted as part of the project "Integration of adaptation in planning processes to reduce vulnerability to climate change at the central and local level in the agricultural sector of the Republic of Moldova", implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, with the financial support of the Green Climate Fund."
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