OREANDA-NEWS. September 26, 2014. Prime Minister Iurie Leanca and World Bank's Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Laura Tuck paid a visit to Radeni village, central Straseni district.

The officials visited one of the most modern agricultural complex in Moldova – Codru, in order to see how Moldovan apples were raised, the government’s communication and media relations department has reported.

Leanca informed that one of the government’s priorities for the development of the agricultural sector was to build access ways to orchards.

The officials walked through the orchard, got familiarised with the ways apples were harvested and, subsequently, kept in refrigerators, as well as how a project of the company’s head, farmer Ion Chilianu was carried out with the help of the money got from the World Bank. It is about a demonstrative farmland, orchard covered with anti-hail net and drip irrigation.

Ion Chilianu stressed that the demonstrative lot contributed to improve the techniques of fruit harvesting and that he was satisfied with the 25-thousand-dollar-worth support, which he obtained from the World Bank in order to build it.

The money was provided via the Natural Disaster Risk Management Programme. In whole, the bank has provided financing of 1.2 million dollars for construction of 53 demonstrative lots to adapt to climate changes in various areas of Moldova.

Laura Tuck highlighted that the performing agriculture was a real future for Moldova, which would further be backed by the World Bank.

„This farm shows that it is possible to pass from the Eastern market to the European Union’s one. We will further cooperate with the Moldovan government, in order to create jobs and develop Moldova’s economy,” Tuck said. Asked if she likes the Moldovan apples, Laura Tuck underlined: „The Moldovan apples are very tasty. In order to enter the European market, certain requirements must be observed, such as packaging and others. However, the Moldovan apples are very tasty, maybe tastier that those from the European Union”.

Leanca underscored that the next projects in the agriculture area would refer to the access ways to orchards and storages. „I hope that in 2015, we will be able to implement a new project with the support of the World Bank, directed to access ways to orchards. We have already earmarked more than 4 million for building the incorporated area roads. In 2015, the World Bank will finance a 45-million-dollar-worth project for sorting, packaging, etc., from which, I hope the Moldovan producers might benefit”.

The Codru agricultural complex is one of the greatest fruit exporters from Moldova. The company has apple and plum orchards, as well as grape plantations. It also cultivates species with superior biological values, works out and efficiently manages high-performing orchards and vines, keeps and sells fruit and grapes of higher quality. It also holds ISO certificate and is the first Moldovan farm that got the EUREPGAP certificate.