Back from Italy, a Vadul-Rașcov native builds a modern farm and creates local jobs with EU support
Denis Pruteanu, 26, lived and studied in Italy for 9 years. Three years ago, he returned to the Republic of Moldova to help grow his family's business. He resides in Chisinau and commutes daily to Vadul-Rașcov in the Soldănești district, where his family owns a farm.
The young entrepreneur wants to start a business in the meat processing sector, and thanks to funding from the European Union program "Confidence-Building Measures", implemented by UNDP, he is closer to his dream.
Denis's family owns over 60 hectares of land dedicated to growing cereals. A few years ago, he started a farm to capitalize on this resource.
"Six years ago, my father launched this business, but he didn't have a development plan. After I completed my studies in Italy, I set out to grow the business. It required significant investments, and finding financing was a difficult and arduous process," Denis explains.
As a young entrepreneur, Denis created a business plan and submitted it to a competition offered by a European Union program. Thanks to a $20,000 grant, he was able to equip the farm with the latest machinery bought from Italy.
The equipment includes systems for watering, feeding, and ventilating the facilities, as well as machines that transport cereals into a tank, mix them, and grind them, making it easier for animals to digest the food.
"This support gave me wings and the motivation to expand this business. With this funding, we were also able to develop a company logo. Branding is crucial because it involves creating and managing our identity in consumers' minds—our customers. We aim to build an emotional connection with consumers, foster loyalty, and ultimately increase sales and market share," the entrepreneur explains.
The entrepreneur focused on organic products
Denis, a young entrepreneur, aims to create a complete value chain that includes growing and processing cereals, as well as raising and processing meat.
"In the future, I would like us to be certified organic at an international level. To establish an organic brand, we need organic land and to feed our animals organic food. This is the path to producing organic meat. We have everything we need; we just have to strive for it," Denis explains.
Every year, the Pruteanu family raises 150 to 200 sheep, goats, and pigs, which they sell to processors at a significantly lower price than they would receive if they operated their own meat shops.
Denis plans to increase the number of pigs he raises and intends to start processing meat soon, with plans to open a restaurant in the village of Vadul-Rașcov.
"We aim to process meat and make sausages. In a few months, we will purchase breeding animals. When I visited Italy, I discovered a wide variety of sausages. I would like to create similar sausages in the Republic of Moldova," he says.
Jobs at home
The opening of the farm in the village of Vadul-Rașcov has created ten much-needed jobs in a town located over 100 kilometers from Chișinău. As the business continues to grow, more job opportunities will become available for local residents.
“If we start processing, we will create even more jobs. Everyone wants to stay in their country, work here, start a family, and raise their children. That’s what I want too; that’s why I chose to return to Moldova,” says the young entrepreneur.
Starting in 2024, 20 entrepreneurs, including Denis, will receive support from the EU and UNDP to either grow or launch their businesses. Supporting young entrepreneurs and nurturing the business environment is part of a broader effort by the European Union and UNDP to build trust and promote economic development on both sides of the Nistru.
