Agricultural Competitiveness and Enterprise Development Project Year Five Annual Survey Report

The project aimed to improve the competitiveness and enterprise development of Moldova's agricultural sector. By the end of 2015, the project had trained over 6,569 individual producers, with 131 producers meeting specific criteria for the targeted survey. The Year Five Annual Survey was conducted from October to December 2015, with a sample of 100 producers who had attended four or more production trainings, with three or more trainings focused on the same value chain. The survey aimed to assess the adoption of techniques and practices (T/Ps) by training participants, changes in sales revenues, and new investments reported by these producers. The survey also collected data on the usefulness of the project for producers and conducted a data quality assessment. The survey found that 48 out of 100 producers reported having adopted new techniques and/or practices due to ACED assistance, covering approximately 130 hectares of land. These producers also reported generating additional sales revenue of $191,795 and making new High-Value Agriculture (HVA) investments totaling approximately $47,300. All surveyed producers reported that the project was useful for them. The survey results indicate that the adoption numbers in the Technical and Administrative Management Information System (TAMIS) are under-reported. The reasons given by non-adopters include reluctance to adopt new techniques and practices, lack of knowledge about the benefits of adoption, and limited access to resources and information. The survey also found that producers who attended training events on specific value chains, such as apples, stone fruit, and table grapes, reported higher adoption rates. The survey results suggest that the project has had a positive impact on the agricultural sector in Moldova, with producers reporting increased sales revenue and new investments. The data quality assessment revealed that the TAMIS system has limitations in capturing the full extent of adoption and impact. The survey results highlight the need for continued monitoring and evaluation to ensure that the project is meeting its objectives and to identify areas for improvement. The project's technical teams and the Monitoring and Evaluation Team worked together to modify the survey questionnaire to make it simpler for farmers to understand. Two ACED employees conducted the survey by phone, and the data was populated into an Excel spreadsheet. The survey reached 92 out of 100 producers, with the remaining 8 producers not being interviewed due to incorrect or non-existent phone numbers, non-response, or being out of the country. The survey findings provide evidence that the project has had a positive impact on the agricultural sector in Moldova, with producers reporting increased sales revenue and new investments. The results also highlight the need for continued monitoring and evaluation to ensure that the project is meeting its objectives and to identify areas for improvement.