Recent rains may affect harvesting campaign in Moldova, affirm specialists

Chisinau, 11 July /MOLDPRES/ – The recent rains pose more risks to grain harvesting campaign, which is in full swing, and can cause material damage to agricultural producers, said to agency the senior consultant in production, processing and regulation of products of plant origin policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment (MADRM), Marin Grama.

"The rains will not only delay the harvesting campaign, but they will also augment the fields cultivation, and these are undesirable phenomena for harvest period. The weeds will make work harder and involve extra costs for grain processing and separation. It is for such a situation that it truly fits the word "selecting wheat out of weed," said Marin Grama.

According to the specialist, there will also be needed additional means to reduce high humidity of spikes. "They must be dried according to rules, otherwise there is a risk of more diseases or mold. Also, these factors will influence the percentage of gluten in grain, and ultimately quality of wheat and price," said the representative of MADRM.

In the same vein, Marin Grama said that after the rains there are landslides and there might suffer primarily fields where no erosion prevention measures have been taken. "The easiest thing to do to prevent drainages and landslides would be planting on perimeter of arable fields some perennial crops, for example, lantern. They have retention functions, which would only be a benefit for seedlings at due time. Many producers know it, but unfortunately they do not apply it, and the consequences are often lamentable," said senior consultant at MADRM.

According to Marin Grama, data from the territory at the end of previous week showed that over 30 per cent of wheat fields and almost half of barley crops were harvested in Moldova since campaign beginning.

In most Moldovan localities, Group I cereal harvesting campaign started in late June. Due to precipitation, the harvest started in 11 districts later for about a week.

According to the SHS’s information and media communication service, there are possible rains with electric discharges all over Moldova until the current week end.

(Reporter L. Grubii, editor A. Raileanu)