Moldovan agriculture minister sums up 2022 agricultural year

Chisinau, 29 December /MOLDPRES/ - Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Vladimir Bolea today summed up the 2022 agricultural year and unveiled the perspectives for the 2023 year.  

„To optimize the work of agricultural producers, ensure Moldova’s food security and to improve the well-being and safety of consumers, the ministry, jointly with the competent authorities from abroad, undertook a string of important activities for the agro-industrial sector,’’ Bolea said. Among the most important actions, the minister mentioned the allocation of 1.75 billion lei (less than one billion euros) for the National Fund for the  Development of Agriculture and Rural Environment, up by 60 per cent against the last year; providing of more than 300 million lei for the full compensation of the excise duties on the diesel used by the small- and medium-sized agricultural producers this year; doubling of quotas of export to EU for seven Moldovan agricultural products: plums, apples, tomatoes, tables grapes, garlic, sweet cherries and grape juice, etc.      

Also, the official reiterated that Moldova’s food safety would not be affected, despite an unusual agricultural year, in terms of the manifestation of the drought and the crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine. ‘’This year is atypical. The wheat crops, even if they did not have the harvest expected, anyway, yielded harvest. The Stefan Voda district and other settlements from southern Moldova were worst hit; yet, this prompted the farmers to be aware of the fact that they must invest more in efficient irrigation systems. In terms of percentage, in some districts less, in the others more, but on the whole, the country’s food policy was ensured,’’ the agriculture and food industry minister said.     

In another context, Vladimir Bolea emphasized the extension of the list of socially important products and the capping of the allowed trade markup (fresh refined oil, pork, fowl, congealed fish, beet sugar, pastes, eggs, potatoes, onions, white cabbage, carrots and red beet), consolidation of the framework of subsidization in agriculture through improving the access of micro small and small producers, young farmers and women farmers to assistance on behalf of the state. A the same time, the ceiling of subsidization was increased, in order to encourage the association of agricultural producers;  develop the post-harvesting and processing infrastructure; for the production of milk/meat, renovation of farms; purchasing of equipment for the generation of renewable energy; backing the competitiveness of the vine-growing and wine-making sectors.   

According to the official, for the next period, the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry has set more priorities, which fit into the national strategy of agricultural and rural development for 2022-2027; the programme on Moldova’s food security for 2022-2024; adjusting the subsidization mechanism; facilitating the getting of the authorization for environment for the special use of waters/irrigation of farmlands, in extreme climate conditions; exemption from the payment of the excise duties on the import of crude oil/fuel used by the enterprises for the processing of vegetal products; identifying new sales markets, etc.

„The agriculture and related branches must be made with the computer on table, thinking pragmatically, in the interest of the farmer, producer, economic agent from the field, as well as of the consumer, the citizen who has right and must be supplied with conforming, qualitative and sound products,’’ Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Vladimir Bolea added.