Northern farmer grows greenhouse tomatoes and cucumbers: “It’s stable and safe”
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.
The final cost of vegetables is heavily influenced by the expenses incurred for heating greenhouses during the colder months. When temperatures drop, plant growth slows down. That's why the vegetable grower installed a weather station to monitor weather changes: "I installed it just three days ago with support from the Dutch and Romanian embassies. A team of ten people helped set up the station, which tracks humidity, daytime and nighttime temperatures, and the temperature difference. This difference can severely impact the harvest."
The farmer also mentioned that market competition presents another challenge, particularly due to pressure from imported products. These imports are sold at lower prices, forcing local producers to reduce their prices as well or risk having their crops spoil in storage.
"Imports have a significant effect; instead of earning double, I earn 50% less. You can really feel the impact. A vegetable grown locally in our soil tastes much better; that's what everyone says," added Vladimir Paun.
Labor is another problem. In greenhouses, every task must be completed on time. Despite having a few employees, Vladimir Paun finds it challenging to manage due to limited staff, and vegetable cultivation requires both discipline and experience.
