American farmer awarded Bush prize for development of agricultural cooperative farms in Moldova
March 18, 200618.03.2006 (BASA-economic)
American farmer Norval Dvorak, a Peace Corps volunteer, was awarded Friday the prize of President Bush for activity in Moldova within the U.S. government-financed Farmer-to-Farmer program. The latest project of the farmer is the opening of a cattle breeding farm in the village of Dusmani, the Glodeni district.
At present, the farm concerned breeds around 40 calves that the American farmer has acquired from Dusmani and villages in neighbourhood. He has raised about 10,000 dollars during a campaign in his native city of Manitowoc, the Wisconsin state.
The American farmer has pledge to turn the cooperative farm in the locality into a competitive and profitable business. Knowing the difficulties faced by cooperative members while selling their agricultural products, he suggested them to create an American-style cattle breeding farm. "My goal was to demonstrate to Moldovan farmers that the entrepreneurial cooperatives represent the only possibility to survive. The results are better than they expected and I am sure that the business will be profitable," Dvorok said.
Moldovan Minister of Agriculture Anatol Gorodenco told the awarding ceremony that this initiative is a boost of livestock sector in Moldova. "This is a good enough start. We hope that such farms will shortly open in other villages of Moldova," Gorodenco said.
Contacted by BASA, farmers from Dusmani expressed satisfaction with the business started by the American farmer. "It is wonderful that the farm has reopened. People will have jobs again. We appreciate and we are proud that a foreigner came and opened the farm in our village," villagers said.
The Bush prize was inaugurated by U.S. President George W.Bush in 2003 and it is awarded to those who demonstrate an extraordinary volunteer service and civic participation in one year.
