BACKGROUND
	PROJECT OBJECTIVES
	CURRENT STATUS

The project is well into the 2nd and 3rd of 4 phases. All local institutional partners, and local and U.S. consultants are under contract and executing their respective scopes of work.

With the contributions from all local subcontractors and the expert consultants, there have been submitted some of the first Reports:

• Characterization of Calarasi County, describing agricultural activities, water quality, pollution impacts, and demographics, including illustrative maps;
• Comparative Analysis of Norms and Methodologies to be used in water and soil quality testing;
• Simulation model for identifying vulnerable zones and analyzing impacts of pollution reduction measures.

All of these represent the basis for further processing of data and information, for the final expected deliverables.

Soil and water quality tests have been conducted in three pilot areas covering 30 sampling points. Additional tests will be conducted in the fall, once the mobile lab has been procured and placed in operation.

Extensive investigations have been made in regards to the selection of the vehicle and testing equipment for the mobile lab. Bids for the vehicle and testing equipment have been solicited.

All of the U.S. experts have made their first trips to Romania, working with the local APRA team, participating in meetings with counterparts, reviewing project deliverables and producing the following outputs:

• Draft of the Monitoring Manual;
• Outline of the Local Action Program;
• Structure of the CGAP for small farmers.

For the TNA, a dozen responses to the questionnaire have been received, the training center has been established in Calarasi, and the next steps involve the design and conduct of training courses, and the development of training manuals.

All these results have been presented in the technical workshop session held in Calarasi, on June 25, for about 40 participants, representating all local and national-level counterpart institutions, and at the Steering Committee meeting on July 1 at MoAFWE.