Agriculture remains the foundation of Moldova’s economy, yet today the country’s farmers face a critical challenge — the rapid shrinking and depletion of water resources. In the long term, this shortage poses serious threats not only to economic well-being but also to citizens’ health and the integrity of natural ecosystems.
To prevent a future water crisis, the Government of Moldova, together with UNDP and the Government of Austria, launched the strategic project “Support to Moldova’s Climate Change Adaptation Plan”. This initiative aims to address problems in the medium and long term, creating a reliable shield against climate threats.
The project covers strategic areas such as energy, agriculture and water management, focusing on the introduction of highly efficient economic planning. In the water sector in particular, six priority districts were identified where local administrations receive small grants to implement targeted solutions that help communities adapt to new conditions directly on the ground.
Victor Burkovski, owner and manager of a large vegetable farm in northern Moldova:
«Drought is a climate risk of particular concern to me and to all farmers in Moldova. A large share of rainfall is lost to evaporation or runs off into rivers before it can be used. That is why it is important to manage rainfall by capturing it in reservoirs and using it in agricultural production, in particular to irrigate field and greenhouse vegetable crops and to grow peaches and apricots.»
Implementation mechanisms
Thanks to the small-grant mechanisms, two pilot projects to revitalise water bodies were implemented. In the Sîngerei district in the north of the country, a system was introduced to accumulate meltwater and rainwater to replenish underground aquifers. This technological solution guarantees stable irrigation of farmland even during periods of critical drought, providing reliable access to water resources for more than 3,500 residents of the village of Ciuplești.
At the same time, in the Călărași district in central Moldova, the restored water bodies became the basis for irrigating 6 hectares of vegetable plantations and 14.5 hectares of greenhouses. All production areas are connected to an aqueduct that supplies water through drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. For the 800 residents of the village of Buda, stable access to this water has become the key to economic resilience and prosperity.
Results
The successful implementation of the initiatives provided farmland with stable irrigation, significantly reduced the rate of soil erosion and increased the overall productivity of the farms. The experience of the pilot districts is planned to be scaled up across the whole country, as this case clearly proved that effective water management is a key tool for survival amid climate instability. The new measures not only protect the agricultural sector but also guarantee long-term economic development for local communities.
Valeriu Agapie, head of the “Radu Agapi” farm (Buda village, Călărași district), shares his experience:
«Until recently our business was on the brink of collapse because of extreme droughts, and we were desperately looking for a way out. Today, thanks to the construction of a rainwater harvesting reservoir, we have a reliable water source and confidently plan production years ahead. This project literally saved our business and supported the well-being of the whole community.»
Building on the results achieved, experts are already developing plans to introduce similar technologies in rural regions of Moldova. Expanding water resource management programmes is recognised as the most effective way to reduce climate vulnerability and strengthen the country’s food security. Such steps will become a reliable shield for the agricultural sector, ensuring the prosperity of businesses and stability for every rural resident.
Conclusions and lessons learned
Effective water resource management is a fundamental element of Moldova’s climate adaptation strategy. Creating local infrastructure to harvest precipitation makes it possible to accumulate moisture during short but intense summer downpours. This creates the necessary reserve for crop production during prolonged seasonal droughts, when natural water sources run dry.
What lies at the heart of the changes?
The initiative, implemented with UNDP support, covers strategic nodes of Moldova’s economy: agriculture, energy and water management. The main focus is on introducing effective planning and budgeting that takes climate risks into account. In practice this took the form of reviving reservoirs in two remote regions, where restoring irrigation systems not only halted soil erosion but also laid the foundation for stable growth in crop yields.
Thanks to the modernised water bodies, vegetable production in these districts is expected to grow by 30–40%. Such a leap in productivity will directly affect the well-being of 1,602 farms, increasing their competitiveness on the market and creating conditions for overcoming rural poverty.
Human capital and infrastructure
In addition to technical solutions, the project invests in knowledge: 70 local specialists (including 59 men and 11 women) received specialised training to better understand climate threats and manage them effectively. A key element of the upgraded system was the aqueduct — a special engineering structure that transports water to arid fields across natural or artificial obstacles. It is these technological arteries that today bring life-giving power to Moldova’s black soils, ensuring the prosperity of communities in the new reality.