At the end of October, farmer Gheorghe Rusu from Călărași district, Moldova, continues harvesting tomatoes, an uncommon sight for the season. His success comes from investing in modern greenhouses that allow multiple harvests per year through efficient climate control and advanced technologies.
The greenhouses were planted in July and now yield over 100 tonnes per hectare. "We prepared the seedlings ourselves, using two tomato varieties. The plants are well-treated and protected from pests. Now it's mostly harvesting, the produce sells quickly on the market," says Rusu.
The project required an investment of over €160,000, supported by national programs AIPA and ADMA. With this funding, Rusu transformed one hectare of land into a sustainable and climate-resilient production area.
A key part of the modernization was the installation of photovoltaic panels, which drastically reduced energy expenses. "I used to pay around 20,000–25,000 lei each summer for electricity. Now I pay nothing, even the irrigation pumps, placed a kilometer uphill, run on solar energy," he explains.
Source: radiomoldova.md
