On 31 July, over 40 farmers from the southern region of Moldova participated in a seminar co-organised by Donau Soja Moldova and partners.

The event focused on practices that can help maintain soil fertility during droughts, including the use of legumes, crop rotation diversification and reducing intensive tillage, as well as efficient use of water resources and for the integrated management of diseases, pests, and weeds.

Donau Soja Moldova presented the benefits of including legumes in crop rotation for the first time in southern region of the country. Ela Malai highlighted the various use of protein legumes from feed to food and ”agronomical services” (nitrogen fixation ability, cover crop, green manure, intercrop usage etc.), which can help diversify income streams for farmers, benefits of legumes for soil health and opportunities of growing legumes in the context of protein deficit on Moldovan and European market, increasing farmer resilience and climate risk mitigation in a region vulnerable to droughts.

Practical part of the seminar included visit to fields of local farmer Svirol-Agro LLC that have been including three legumes in crop rotation to preserve soil health with a diversified crop rotation in a region that is prone to climate change, which are also used in their cooperation with the local livestock sector.

This work is carried out within the framework of the strategic partnership between Donau Soja and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).