2007 Report "Rural Productivity in Moldova - Managing Natural Vulnerability"

The Republic of Moldova is vulnerable to a range of natural trends and hazards that impact on rural livelihoods, including erosion, landslides, drought, rain storms, hail, frost, flooding and earthquakes.

In view of the prominent place of agriculture in Moldova’s economy, risks affecting rural areas and agriculture further undermine the country’s resilience to economic shocks and setbacks. Key risks to rural livelihoods are ongoing erosion, which is causing irreversible damage to Moldova’s farmland, and severe weather, including drought, flooding, heavy summer storms, hail, and frost, which reduces the productivity of agriculture and damages rural infrastructure. Moldova also has a high risk of earthquakes, which could cause catastrophic damage to infrastructure at any time in the next few decades. Landslides are a significant but lesser threat.

This report was prepared by a joint World Bank/UNFAO¹Â team, working in close consultation with the Moldovan authorities and responsible institutions, to assess and evaluate the natural vulnerability of rural areas and agriculture, and to propose measures to mitigate risk.

The report is available in PDF format in English (2,609 kb), and  Romanian (2,235 kb).