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Republican Union of Agricultural Producers’ Associations of Moldova UniAgroProtect

 

Organization Profile

 

History

In early 2000, the private agricultural producers of Moldova started to organize themselves in non-governmental, non-political, and non-for-profit Agricultural Producers’ Associations ( APA ) to cooperate in solving problems imminent to the transition period and make agricultural business more efficient and environment friendly. The associations serve as a tool for their members to coordinate activities, create an enabling business and legal environment, and efficiently defend their rights and interests. In 2001, eight associations founded the Republican Union of Agricultural Producers’ Associations UniAgroProtect, which currently comprises 15 APAs and their network of over 40 offices acting in all 33 districts of Moldova . The 2150 APA members farm altogether about 800,000 hectares of land (which represents over 50% of the farmland in Moldova ), rent land from 482,000 individual landowners.

 

Mission & Objectives

The mission of UniAgroProtect is to increase the welfare of agricultural producers of the Republic of Moldova by expressing and promoting their interests, becoming a leading organization acknowledged in the society.

 

The objectives established by UniAgroProtect are:

1.      Create and develop viable agro consulting structures within the framework of APAs;

2.      Create a sound legal framework for the efficient activity of rural entrepreneurs;

3.      Promote new advanced and environment friendly technology in agriculture;

4.      Provide ongoing informational support and publicity to rural entrepreneurs;

5.      Create an efficient system for rural agribusiness planning;

6.      Attract investments in agriculture;

7.      Increase and enhance marketing researches undertaken in the agricultural sector and create an agro marketing network;

8.      Promote a positive image of private agribusiness;

9.      Create and develop a network of rural arbitration that will examine and settle economic disputes in the agricultural sector.

 

Management Bodies

1.      Supreme body - General Meeting, gathered at least one time per year.

2.      Executive body – Union ’s Board, gathered at least one time per quarter.

3.      President of the Union – Chief Executive Officer.

4. First Vice-president – in charge of lobbying and promotion activities.
5. Vice-president – in charge of technical assistance, project implementation and international cooperation.

 

Implementation Capacity

Presently, UniAgroProtect has a well-organized regional network. All units have well trained local consultants, who provide consultancy to agricultural producers in: accounting, finance, legal, marketing and technological fields. Regional offices are equipped with PC, printers, copy machines and multimedia equipment; alternative electricity supply units and location for seminars up to 100 places allow simultaneously delivering of seminars in all units.

 

Relevant Experience

In order to achieve the targeted objectives, UniAgroProtect conducted various activities by applying, implementing and participating in various projects funded by international and donor organizations. UniAgroProtect developed a significant experience in managing projects worth from $20 000 up to $500 000 funded by USAID, FAO, JICA, Eurasia Foundation and UNDP. The list of these projects includes, but is not limited to the following activities:

1.      “Rural Agribusiness Development Project,” implemented under the USAID-funded Private Farmers Assistance Program, 2002-2005;

2.      “Urgent Supply with Autumn Wheat Seeds of the Farmers who suffered from Frosts and Drought,” FAO project, 2003;

3.      Partnership relations established with the Moldovan-Japanese 2KR Program on implementation of Increase of the Food Production Program in the agricultural sector of Moldova , 2003-2005;

4.      "Promotion of the Interests of Agricultural Producers from Moldova through Social Dialogue," financed by Eurasia Foundation, 2004;

5.      “Training Activities on Field Crops Growing for the Farmers in the Regions of Moldova, Affected by Frosts and Droughts,” FAO project, 2004;

6.      “Study and Assessment of the Russian Ban Effect on Moldovan Fresh Product Sector,” developed for the USAID-funded Agricultural Development Project (ADP) in 2005;

7.      “Enhancement of Regional NGOs Participation in the Decision-making Process in Moldova ,” UNDP project, 2006;

8.      „Assistance to Restore Winter Wheat Crop Production and Strengthen Capacities to Cope with Effects of Adverse Climatic Events,” FAO project, 2006-2008;

9.      “Survey on the Training Needs at the National Training Center for Agricultural Mechanization,” developed for UNICO International Corporation ( Tokyo , Japan ) in 2007;

10.  “Input supply to vulnerable populations under the Initiative on Soaring Food Prices,” FAO project, 2009.

 

Throughout its entire activity, UniAgroProtect pays a special attention to the training component. Union ’s specialists are constantly working on evaluation of the informational and training needs of agricultural producers and respectively development of training plans and training strategies, elaboration of the informational/training materials, conducting training sessions, evaluation of the impact and of the feedback from the participants. Since 2001, a total number of 6500 seminars were held and reached over 190,000 farmers.

 

UniAgroProtect has developed a significant experience in organizing study tours, both for its members and beneficiaries abroad, as well as for foreign visitors to Moldova . Study tours were organized to the following countries: USA , Hungary , Poland , Greece , Italy , and Ukraine . Major topics of the study tours included NGOs institutional development, improvement of management and marketing skills, and sustainable development strategies.

 

Relations with Moldovan Public Administration Authorities

UniAgroProtect and its regional member-associations have a 10-year long history of relations with Moldovan public administration authorities of all levels. At the national level, the Union is involved on a regular basis in the following major policy actions:

·      drafting and reviewing of annual Republican Budget laws;

·      drafting and reviewing of annual Social Insurance Fund laws;

·      annual regulations on farm subsidization;

·      improvement of fiscal policy and amendments to the Tax Code;

·      application of special fiscal regime on some agricultural products;

·      development of business cooperatives;

·      improvement of the business environment.

The Union holds on a regular basis public events on policy issues with the participation of governmental officials of all levels, including ministers, the Prime Minister of Moldova, Councilors of the President of Moldova. These events are also attended by representatives of partner organizations and international institutions. At the same time, the regional associations of agricultural producers are conducting similar activities at the local and regional levels. Being able to insure a large grassroots support, UniAgroProtect and its regional member-associations in most cases manage to convince public administration authorities to accept their policy initiatives and proposals.

 

Contact Information

Mail address: 162, Stefan cel Mare bld., Chisinau, the Republic of Moldova , MD 2004

tel.: (+3732 2) 210 085
fax: (+3732 2) 228 287
e-mail: uap@uap.md; ivatamaniuc@uap.md

 

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