Agricultural policy for 2026: increased support for women-led agricultural businesses

Women farmers in the Republic of Moldova will benefit from expanded financial support measures and preferential facilities starting in 2026, in the context of the designation of this year as the International Year of the Woman Farmer by the UN General Assembly and the adjustment of the national agricultural policy.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, the global initiative launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), together with IFAD and the World Food Programme, aims to highlight the role of women in agriculture and food security, as well as the persistent inequalities in access to resources. FAO data show that women account for approximately 40% of the workforce in agri-food systems worldwide, yet they have more limited access to land, financing, technologies and decision-making processes.

In the Republic of Moldova, women make up about 18% of unique subsidy beneficiaries, and only 14% of farms with legal status are headed by women. The data show that farms managed by women are on average smaller and less mechanized, with reduced access to irrigation, post-harvest infrastructure and modern equipment.

In this context, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry announces an improved subsidy mechanism for 2026, so that it better responds to the needs of rural women, young people and small producers. In the National Fund for Agriculture and Rural Development for 2026, approximately 500 million lei are earmarked for subsidy measures dedicated to these categories, with calls for applications to be launched after the approval of the Strategic Agricultural Policy Programme.

Support is complemented by financial instruments provided through UCIP IFAD, which offers financing packages for women in rural areas. They can access loans of up to 1 million lei, including a grant component of up to 320,000 lei, for agricultural production activities, post-harvest operations, processing, packaging, marketing, as well as for related fields such as bakery, agricultural services, agritourism and handicrafts.

In addition, through the Agency for the Development and Modernization of Agriculture, within the Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Modernization (MAME) project, preferential conditions are applied for women and young people. Agricultural enterprises managed by women or by young people up to 36 years of age benefit from a reduced advance payment of 25% and the possibility of paying for equipment in installments over a period of up to 3 years, compared to an advance of 50% and a term of up to 2 years in other cases.

The authorities state that the measures for 2026 aim to reduce existing gaps and stimulate the participation of women in the agricultural sector, thereby contributing to rural development and strengthening food security.