Home News Slovak solutions help make berry farming in Moldova more resilient to climate change
Slovak environmentally friendly biostimulants are helping farmers in Moldova strengthen the climate resilience of berry production. Initial findings from the monitoring of a SlovakAid-supported project indicate a positive impact on crop growth and expected yields.
On 3 June 2026, a monitoring visit took place as part of the project Enhancing the Climate Resilience of Rural Berry Growers in Moldova through Climate-Smart Agriculture, implemented by People in Need Slovakia in cooperation with its Moldovan partners People in Need Moldova and Pro-Europa in Comrat. The project is supported by SlovakAid with a contribution of EUR 250,000.
The monitoring visit was attended by representatives of the Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation (SAIDC), the project team from People in Need Moldova, and the Slovak company ekolive, a project partner. The company develops environmentally friendly biotechnologies aimed at improving soil quality and promoting crop growth through the use of biostimulants.
During the visit, the experts visited two of the five participating LEAD farms in the Orhei and Șoldănești regions, where growers had been using Slovak biostimulants on raspberries, blackberries and currants for approximately six weeks. The biostimulants were applied both as foliar sprays and through irrigation systems at regular intervals.
Initial feedback from participating farmers suggests that the biostimulants are having a positive impact on crop development. They reported stronger stems, better-developed root systems and faster plant growth. Raspberry grower Vasile Nasu from Șoldănești noted that, despite unfavourable weather conditions, the fruit is already larger than it was at the same time last year. As a result, he expects raspberry yields from his greenhouse to increase from around seven to ten tonnes.
Similar observations were shared by Sergiu Cerus, a farmer from the village of Neculaieuca in the Orhei region who grows raspberries, blackberries and currants. A comparison of treated and untreated crops showed that plants treated with the Slovak biostimulants had reached a more advanced stage of development and began producing fruit earlier.
The visit also included expert consultations provided by Slovak specialists, who collected soil and plant samples for further analysis and advised farmers on appropriate crop protection practices.
The project also promotes the use of modern technologies in agriculture. Weather stations connected to mobile applications have been installed on participating farms, providing real-time data on temperature, rainfall and air humidity. This information helps farmers plan cultivation activities more efficiently and respond more effectively to changing climate conditions.
The farmers' positive experience with the biostimulants also became evident during the implementation of the project. Although the original plan was to leave part of the crops untreated for comparison purposes, three of the five lead farmers ultimately decided to apply the biostimulants across their entire cultivation area.
Their decision was driven by the encouraging results they had already observed during the first weeks of use.
The project is an example of how Slovak development cooperation can be combined with the expertise and innovative solutions of the Slovak private sector. ekolive has expressed its interest in continuing the distribution of its environmentally friendly biostimulants in Moldova beyond the project's duration and is currently looking for a local business partner.
By promoting sustainable agricultural practices, sharing Slovak know-how and strengthening the resilience of local farmers, the project contributes to climate adaptation in agriculture while supporting the sustainable development of rural communities in Moldova.