The Technical University of Moldova has launched two agricultural extension points in Sireți and Costești, created to bring university research closer to farmers and local communities. The visit of the North Carolina State University delegation and Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, organized by UTM, marked a new step in the development of university extension services in the Republic of Moldova.
Following the merger of the former Agrarian University with UTM, FȘASM managed to recover 500 of the 2,000 hectares that had once belonged to the agricultural institution and had later come under state management. In this context, UTM’s Mircești campus is becoming a full ecosystem for applied education, research and technology transfer in agriculture. After visiting the campus, Elaine Marshall noted the recent changes, saying it was “unrecognizable since the last visit, much more modern and full of life.”
Through agricultural extension services, university expertise is brought directly into communities, giving farmers access to consultancy, applied research and solutions adapted to the realities of the field.
“Through projects like this, UTM fulfills its three fundamental missions: service to society, service to the local community and the generation of ideas for applied science projects. Costești and Sireți are communities with strong management and leadership, capable of ensuring the continuity of the extension project. We have opened spaces where FȘASM will have a permanent presence in these localities, hosting expertise, research and consultations. UTM researchers and teaching staff will be able to help local farmers address challenges in the agricultural sector.”
Students will also play an important role in this process, gaining the opportunity to apply the skills developed during their studies in real working conditions. At the same time, the extension services will support farmers by helping identify practical solutions to the current challenges facing agriculture.
The strategic partnership between UTM and North Carolina strengthens the modernization of Moldovan agriculture and supports the development of the “smart villages” concept. For the Technical University of Moldova, the project shows that applied education and research can generate direct economic impact when they are connected to the needs of farmers and local communities.
