Moldovan PM summons meeting to consider problems in agriculture

Chisinau, 29 April /MOLDPRES/ - Prime Minister Ion Chicu today summoned a meeting of the leadership of the Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment Ministry (MADRM) and a group of researchers and producers in agriculture, in order to consider problems triggered by the hydrological drought. The PM asked for the opinion of specialists on the present situation and possible developments in agriculture, effects expected and solutions, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.   

Minister Ion Perju described the situation as unprecedented. Although there are a little hit farms, most of them are likely to be strongly affected. MADRM initiated a process of assessment of the real state of the fields in each district and, as far as possible, of each farm.    

The director of the Selectia (Selection) Research Institute for Field Crops, Boris Boincean, said that the situation was differing from case to case. The current drought was preceded by a warm and snowless winter, which affected more crops. The situation concerning the sunflower and maize was described as critical.    

A farmer from the western Ungheni district, Nicanor Buzovoi, confirmed the seriousness of the problems, noting that, if there are rains on the next days, a half of the expected harvest would be saved. He stressed the need to change the approaches in the management of farmlands and development of the animal husbandry sector.    

A member of the Agrostoc entrepreneurial cooperative, Igor Tagadiuc, referred to the fact that, in the northern districts, the state of crops was less affected than in the central and southern Moldova.  

The manager of a company specialized in agriculture, Ghenadie Cionac, backed the need to make an inventory of the state of the lands sowed and the reserves of seeds. He approached the subject on bank credits and possibility to discuss with the banking institutions, in order to reduce the burden for farmers, as well as the topic of insurances in agriculture.  

Ion Chicu said that the results of the valuation would allow prioritizing the problems and choosing the solutions for overcoming the consequences. The prime minister highlighted the necessity to develop the national potential of producing seeds. The programme on subsidizing the interests on loans, initiated by the government, will support including the agricultural enterprises. The cabinet is working out a functional mechanism of insurances in agriculture. After the assessment initiated by MADRM is finished, the government will come up with solutions to overcome the effects of the hydrological drought and back the farms.