The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Florin-Ionuț Barbu, together with his Israeli counterpart Avi Dichter, accompanied by a delegation led by H.E. Reuven Azar, the Ambassador of Israel to Bucharest, conducted a working field visit to investment objectives in the counties of Ialomița and Constanța.

The first objective visited was the Fetești SPP 1 Pumping and Re-pumping Station, which is part of the Pietroiu Ștefan cel Mare Irrigation Development, located within the territorial area of Ialomița County.

The station's water supply is provided through the main land improvement infrastructure (CD1 canal) managed and rehabilitated by ANIF through the National Rehabilitation Program for the main irrigation infrastructure in Romania.

Following the access to non-reimbursable funds, through measure 125, provided by MADR, the station was completely rehabilitated in 2015, thus allowing the irrigation of an area of 2,429 hectares.

The Pietroiu Ștefan cel Mare Development includes five water pumping and re-pumping stations and five adduction canals and covers a total area of 52,428 hectares, of which 21,992 hectares are in Călărași County. Of the total development area, 52,233 hectares are declared viable, and two initiated investment works aim at rehabilitating the entire developed area.

During this visit, a farmer who benefits from the Rehabilitation Program was present, managing to irrigate an area of 4,000 hectares of large crops with the help of the program. The area is serviced by 24 pivot and linear irrigation equipment.

Other objectives visited included the Agrichim Ialomița farm, the Cambella company, the Saligny silos in the Constanța port, the Ameropa company, and the Iancu sheep farm.

During the trip, the Romanian minister highlighted the importance of intensifying bilateral cooperation between the two countries on topics of common interest with concrete benefits for farmers, and this visit creates favorable premises in this regard.

Accompanying the Minister of Agriculture were the General Director of ANIF, Cornel Popa, the President of ANSVSA Alexandru Bociu, the President of the National Administration of State Reserves and Special Problems, Georgian Pop, as well as technical experts from institutions under the MADR. (Photo: MADR)