OREANDA-NEWS. On February 14, 2008 the Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, Mr. Anatolie Gorodenco, had a meeting with the expert in rural development, Caroline La Chapelle, reported the Official website www.maia.gov.md.

The main subject on the agenda was action plan outlining for the implementation of  ,,Sustainable integrated land use of the Eurasian steppes, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine’’ TACIS project, which is estimated at about 2,5 million euro.

Minister Anatolie Gorodenco pointed out, within the framework of the National Strategy for Agro-industrial Complex Sustainable Development, certain priority directions of the nominated project implementation, including draught consequences mitigation by extending irrigable areas, establishment of model farms for producing ecological production in the North, Centre and South zones of the republic etc.

On 11-20 February, the expert in rural development, Caroline La Chapelle, pays a visit to Moldova. The main objective of ,,Sustainable integrated land use of the Eurasian steppes, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine’’ TACIS project is assisting in the development of region-wide steppe ecosystem restoration and conservation, and its sustainable management as part of viable rural land use systems.

The document draft is to be elaborated after this visit, which will be later consulted with decision factors, representatives of rural community within the second stage of the activity.