Climate change has increasingly compelled Moldovan farmers to reconsider their agricultural practices. Vladimir Paun, a farmer from the village of Hăsnășenii Noi in the Drochia district, has turned away from traditional open-field vegetable farming due to severe drought and extreme temperatures. To sustain his business, he has transitioned all his production to greenhouses. Vladimir Paun mentioned that he grew vegetables outdoors for eight years, but extreme temperatures during that time negatively impacted his harvest.

“In 2019, I secured a loan and began farming in greenhouses. I noticed more risks with open-field cultivation, but greenhouses provide a more stable environment. Since then, we have expanded to 1.6 hectares, focusing on two crops: cucumbers and tomatoes.”

Although he is a welder by profession, Vladimir constructed his greenhouses himself using reused iron. Additionally, subsidies from the Agency for Intervention and Payments for Agriculture helped him start his business.

“If we focus on one hectare of greenhouse cultivation with heating, the cost is around four million lei when you handle the construction yourself using raw metal. Factory-made greenhouses, which are imported, cost twice as much. I received about 50% support from the state, which was very helpful, and once I received the subsidies, I was able to close more loans,” noted the vegetable grower.

Read more at Radio Moldova