Grape harvest to be lower than in 2018, according to specialists
10:39 | 16.08.2019 Category: Economic
Chisinau, 16 August /MOLDPRES/- This year, the grape harvest for wine will begin in the second half of August, earlier than last year, and specialists forecast a smaller overall grape production than in 2018. The information was presented to the Council on grapes, wine, wine products and processed products, held this week at the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment.
It was discussed the situation on export of wine products and wine stocks, status of vineyards and estimates of global grape production this year, and following the discussions were proposed solutions to organize the purchase of grapes for wine from the harvest of 2019.
Council members pointed out the main problems they are currently facing. These included the high stock of wines, the decrease in export volumes and the risk of exacerbating the situation in the grape processing campaign 2019. Also, the Council found that due to the calamities, about 2000 ha of vine plantations were affected, in some areas the plantations were completely destroyed.
For this reason, this year, it is estimated a decrease of the global crop in the country, by about 30 thousand tons compared to last year, with a global grape production of about 700 thousand tons, including table grapes (about 140 thousand tons).
The Council proposes to the grape producers to direct the goods to the manufacture of other products based on grapes: concentrated juice, fresh juice, export of grapes for wine or wine distillation will be proposed.
In terms of purchase prices of grapes, the Council will recommend to the wineries that in negotiating with the producers to take into account the reference prices and the concrete costs of purchasing the raw material from the harvest of 2019.
About the decisions of the Council, the producers of grapes and the wine units are to be informed by the representatives of the National Office of Vine and Wine and the Scientific-Practical Institute of Horticulture and Food Technologies.
