Subsidies in agriculture, rural areas assessed by international experts

Chisinau, 3 November /MOLDPRES/- Efficiency of subsidy activities in agriculture and rural areas was evaluated yesterday at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry during a meeting with international experts. To this end, a workshop was held to validate the analytical report on the impact of short-term subsidies, conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, based on a survey of about 200 farmers who received cash aid in 2017-2018.

The authors of the survey claim that most of the surveyed farmers are able to invest their own financial resources and are not limited by credit constraints. Also, according to the survey, there is a prolific activity of the following categories of farmers: small producers (19.9%); women producers (18.1%); producers aged between 40 and 49 (25.9%); members of associations (14%); those who invested in Stimulating investments for the production of fruits and vegetables on protected land (winter greenhouses, solariums, tunnels) in 2017 (40.2%) and in Stimulating investments for the equipment and technological renovation of livestock farms in 2018 (23.6%); holders of quality certificates (29%).

At the same time, according to the data in the report, the investments from the state were efficient, as the surveyed beneficiaries registered a better performance in terms of profit which increased by 51.25%, ie from 209 million lei, in 2016 (before investments ), up to 317 million lei, in 2019 (after investments). Other indicators highlighted in the survey are: labor productivity increased by 20% from 2016 to 2019; the mechanization of the household advanced by 30%; land subject to exploitation increased by 7%; the productivity (tons / hectare) of the main products exceeded 14%; quality certificates generate positive effects for agricultural producers; the terms of the business plan are respected at a level of 83% in the average population, etc.

Based on the questionnaire, FAO experts developed a monitoring tool for the Agricultural Intervention and Payments Agency to assess the effects of the short-term subsidy policy. The report was made within the project implemented by FAO Strengthening the administrative capacity of MAIA for the implementation of the policy of promotion of agri-food products.

Photo: MAIA