The Cimișlia-Basarabeasca Ovi-Caprine Cluster was officially established with the signing of a memorandum on October 10, 2023. The cluster's vision is to transform the micro-region into the most competitive and well-developed production hub for sheep and goat farming in the Republic of Moldova, with the goal of producing at least 1.5-2 thousand tons of milk annually. One of the main challenges faced by the cluster is the mismatch between the number of animals (sheep and goats) and the cluster's focus on milk production. To address this issue, under the UNDP project "Resilient and Inclusive Markets in Moldova," five dedicated sheep farmers set out to purchase 400 Assaf and Lacaune breed sheep using project funds and their own contributions. Recently, 435 Assaf ewes (8 to 11 months old) and 11 Assaf rams, purchased from authorized farms in Bulgaria, arrived and are now in quarantine. Soon, an additional 50 Lacaune sheep will be purchased from Austria.
The acquisition of Assaf sheep is a significant boost for both the livestock businesses and the cluster itself. The Assaf breed is known for its milk production capabilities, and this purchase will help increase the volume of milk produced and sold to local processors. It will also improve the genetic stock of the animals, increase the cluster's sheep population by around 20%, and in the medium term, alongside other interventions, will lead to a 12% rise in the cluster's overall business turnover. The purchase process was managed by the NGO "Development through Involvement," the cluster's management entity, with support from representatives of the Scientific-Practical Institute of Biotechnologies in Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine.
This acquisition was made possible through the Switzerland-UNDP project "Resilient and Inclusive Markets in Moldova."