---
title: "Off-grid Moldovan sheep farm beats infrastructure odds"
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/82237/off-grid-moldovan-sheep-farm-beats-infrastructure-odds
published: 2026-08-03T06:00:00Z
language: en
author: "Redacția  TRM"
section: "Economic"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# Off-grid Moldovan sheep farm beats infrastructure odds

> In the village of Todiresti, located in the Ungheni district, a personal passion has turned into an expanding agribusiness. Four years ago, Dumitru Obriste started raising livestock on a small scale. Today, alongside his wife Ana, he manages a flock of roughly 600 sheep and goats.

[Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/LaER92YA7ck)

In the village of Todiresti, located in the Ungheni district, a personal passion has turned into an expanding agribusiness. Four years ago, Dumitru Obriste started raising livestock on a small scale. Today, alongside his wife Ana, he manages a flock of roughly 600 sheep and goats.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/5bc0d247-f4e3-4315-af74-2753a65cea71.jpg)

Despite the growth, scaling up operations remains a challenge. The family currently navigates tight distribution channels and persistent infrastructure deficits.

**Adapting to local conditions**

To maximize output, Obriste selected local Moldovan breeds crossed with Assaf sheep, a mix known for resilience and adaptability. While milking operations are fully mechanized, the facility lacks connection to the central power grid. As a result, the family relies on fuel generators to keep equipment running.

Logistics present an equally tough hurdle. Market access for fresh cheese and lamb remains largely informal, driven by word-of-mouth demand.

The farm caters directly to seasonal buyers and diaspora clients, often packaging orders and dispatching them via regional transit routes.

**Structural hurdles in livestock sector**

According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, Moldova recorded over 531,000 sheep and goats at the start of the year. However, only 10% of these animals are raised within formal agricultural enterprises, highlighting a heavily fragmented sector dominated by smallholders.

For Obriste, overcoming distribution bottlenecks is the next critical step. Building a sustainable market presence requires bridging the gap between small-scale production and formal retail networks.

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/a822c289-b776-45c4-bb32-b0c7a6873326.jpg)