National Program on ecological agricultural production.

National Program on ecological agricultural production is a nationwide multi-sectoral policy document. The Program sets forth the main objectives: (a) social - promoting healthy nutritional habits and obtaining agricultural commodities based on traditional conditions and experience; ensuring safety and quality of agricultural commodities; (b) ecological - environmental protection; protection, preservation and enhancement of soil fertility; development and use of appropriate animal breeding methods; conservation of natural resources; and (c) economic - meeting market demands for ecological agricultural products; offering an alternative source for economic development in rural areas; development of a form of agriculture favourable to the national economy; initiating activities on the cycle of closed management, with maximum reduction of negative consequences for the environment; development of auxiliary and alternative activities that offer jobs.
The implementation of this Program is based on the fact that the production of organic agricultural commodities and their trade are a real chance to get access to foreign markets that are saturated with commodities of traditional agricultural production and where there is a shortage of organic products. In recent years, the interest of the country's economic agents in the production of organic agricultural commodities has increased, which is confirmed by the increase in areas and volumes of these products.
The Program also includes the following objectives: (a) creation of a legislative and regulatory framework harmonized with international requirements in the field of organic agricultural production; (b) organization of the system of organic agricultural production through creation of model farms, mapping and centralization of information on raw materials and conditions necessary for organic agricultural production; (c) organization of the system of inspection and certification of organic agricultural production; (d) establishment of local extension centers, which will support both producers and consumers; (e) supporting research projects, including those related to plant and animal protection; (f) orientation of service enterprises (seeds, fertilizers, medicines, etc.) towards the requirements of organic agriculture; and (g) implementing a price incentive policy for producers of organic agricultural commodities.
Ecological agricultural production can provide the population of Moldova with products and meet the demand of the foreign market by means of: (a) cooperation of production enterprises with enterprises processing and selling ecological products; (b) maintaining, developing and promoting trade in ecological products; and (c) creation of specialized departments in the retail trade network.
Support of agricultural production shall be performed through subsidies, incentives, creation of special fund and crediting of organic agricultural production.