A. PROGRAM SUMMARY

1. Program objectives

Overall objective

Small and medium farmers profit more from internal and external markets due to improved marketing activities and their active participation in the marketing process.

Short-term objectives

• Farmers and entrepreneurs are informed about market trends and principles;
• Farmers export more by cooperating in marketing and input supply;
• Farmers and entrepreneurs invest in marketing
• Farmers operate efficiently by increasing their entrepreneurial skills
• Legislation is transparent and favorable for farmers and entrepreneurs
• Moldovan NGOs cooperate efficiently for the rural poor

2. Program activities

1. Provide information on prices and trends to all actors involved and facilitate contacts and contracts between farmers and entrepreneurs;

Facilitate the collection, processing and distribution of retail and wholesale prices from different markets to interested individuals. Train all actors on how to use the market information. Publish brochures and success stories regarding the effect of using the market information. Facilitate contacts and contracts between farmers and entrepreneurs by (1) Collecting and distributing information on input supply and agricultural products' marketing; (2) Building relations between farmers and processors; (3) Training farmers in products' quality issues, negotiating contracts and decision making; (4) Assisting farmers in buying and trading through AGRAVISTA on-line system; (5) Producing market analyses and studies.

2. Assist farmers in creating informal sales groups and marketing cooperatives by:

(1) Offering farmers' groups information regarding marketing and input supply channels; (2) Organizing visits of farmers to processors for familiarizing them with the quality and marketing aspects of agricultural production; (3) Training farmers in products' quality issues, negotiating contracts and decision making; (4) Assisting farmers in buying and trading through AGRAVISTA on-line system.

Create marketing cooperatives by: (1) Assisting potential members in coop organizational development; (2) Supporting the business development aspect of the marketing cooperatives; (3) Assisting the marketing coops in attracting credits and grants to uphold their development.

3. Support entrepreneurs and investments groups that invest in marketing by:

(1) Providing assistance in creating investments groups; (2) Offering relevant information on technologies, market trends, legal issues, quality standards, potential partners, etc; (3) Offering assistance in the development of business plans related to agricultural products' marketing; (4) Assisting clients in filling out credit applications and in obtaining credits.

4. Train farmers

Organize and carry out training programs for farmers in the following fields: (1) Communication skills; Marketing of products and services; (2) Business Development; (3) Cooperative Development; (4) Social and managerial skills in business development management.

5. Improve the legislation in order to make it more transparent and favorable for farmers and entrepreneurs by:

(1) Monitoring and studying the legislation in force; (2) Organizing round tables on legal matters; (3) Developing draft amendment to the legislation; (3) Conducting lobby activities for a more transparent and favorable legislation; (4) Organizing round tables, press conferences, writing articles, making publications and taking attitudes; (5) Making comparative legislation studies; (6) Carrying out lobby campaigns, etc.

6. Assist CRED and cooperate more efficiently for farmers' interest by:

(1) Attracting new members; (2) A more active involvement of members in CRED activities; (3) Attracting resources for the activities fostered by CRED; (4) Training CRED members on a continuous basis; (5) Calling General Assemblies; (6) Organizing Permanent Delegation Meetings; (7) Organizing CRED Clubs; (8) Exchanging information among CRED members.

3. Expected results

1. Provide information on prices and trends to all actors involved and facilitate contacts and contracts between farmers and entrepreneurs

• Prices and market trends are supplied to AGROinform;
• 60% of farmers use the ASPA Marketing Information System and increase their profits;
• 30% of the farmers read the monthly contribution of ASPA in 'Fermierul' and 40% of farmers listen to weekly ASPA radio-program;
• 3 publications are produced;
• 12 farmers per year per regions are trained: in total, 300 farmers are trained;
• 160 farmers-entrepreneurs links are facilitated;
• 100 commercial transactions with a total value of 4 million lei are facilitated;

2. Assist farmers in creating informal sales groups and marketing cooperatives

• 60 effective informal sales groups with 2000 farmers involved assisted in marketing and products' quality issues;
• 120 commercial transactions with a value of 5 million lei are concluded;
• 9 strategic marketing cooperatives are created 9;
• 20% of the strategic groups sales are export transactions;
• 2 coops uniting strategic groups are established;
• 20 transactions with a value of 4 million lei are performed;
• Credits in amount of 200.000 EUR are disbursed.

3. Support entrepreneurs and investments groups that invest in marketing

• 20 effective investment groups assisted with 1million Lei invested;
• 200 small and medium agribusiness are assisted with 7 million lei invested ;
• 40 commercial transactions in value of 3 million lei are closed by the investment groups;
• 200 transactions amounting 4 million lei are concluded with small and medium enterprises;
• Credits in amount of 8 million lei are disbursed.

4. Train farmers

• 1 training in cooperative development organized once a year for 8-12 participants: 30 participants in 3 years;
• 6 training sessions in cooperative developments for 8-12 participants: 60 participants in 3 years;
• 6 training days in 2005, 10 in 2006 and 8 in 2007. At least 3 individuals from each cooperative will be trained in management, marketing and communication and at least the mangers and bookkeepers will get training on administration and financial planning.

5. Improve the legislation in order to make it more transparent and favorable for farmers and entrepreneurs

• Legislation is influenced by the proposed amendments;
• Policies are influenced (for e.g. PRSP process; Agricultural Ministry's policies, World Bank or IMF).

6. Assist CRED and cooperate more efficiently for farmers' interest

• Number of members in CRED is increased;
• Members contribute actively to the lobby activities;
• More articles are published in mass media on the problems of rural areas;
• One new donor for CRED is identified.

Project start date: 01.01.2005

Project end date: 31.12.2007