The Agricultural and Rural Advisory Center (CCAR) and the OPTIM Project, supported by Switzerland and Helvetas Moldova, have recently signed a partnership agreement.

The agreement provides for the development of an integrated training program for agricultural advisors. Its goal is to strengthen the capacities of specialists within the national advisory network and to create sustainable local support for farmers.

Under this partnership, CCAR will design and implement two specialization programs for 30 agricultural advisors:

• Project Development Program, focused on building skills in drafting funding applications, business plans, and investment projects;
• Access to Finance Program, aimed at improving advisors’ ability to identify financing opportunities for agricultural beneficiaries.

Both programs will include theoretical and practical components and will be jointly developed by a local and an international expert.

In addition to training advisors, CCAR plans to expand its direct training activities for more than 120 farmers from various regions of the country.