Agriculture minister says Moldova to have 600,000 tons of wheat in 2020, with country's need of 350,000 tons

Chisinau, 15 July /MOLDPRES/ - The first operative information on the harvesting campaign make us be optimistic about getting an overall wheat production of not less than 600,000 tons, at the country’s necessary quantity of 350,000 tons. Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment Minister Ion Perju made statements to this effect at a cabinet meeting today.    

According to the official, when the harvest will be in barns, the situation in terms of the quantities of fodder wheat and food wheat will be clear.  

„The worst hit region is the southern and south-eastern one. We have farms in Basarabeasca, Cimislia, Taraclia, Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, where farmers harvest by 400-500 kg of wheat from one hectare, while the average harvest is one ton. A better situation is recorded in the northern region, where, for instance, in Soroca, we have 2.5 tons per one hectare, and in Briceni – even more than three tons,’’ Perju said.     

According to the minister, the harvesting of barley is practically over. ‘’We have an almost twice poorer harvest this year against the year before, of about 70,000 tons. This quantity is enough for the country, less for export. As for the rape, we have an average harvest of about 1.5 tons per one hectare, with an overall production of 30,000 tons, which is fully meant for export. This is financial basis for producers,’’ Ion Perju also said.      

The agriculture minister showed optimistic also about the harvest of the second-group crops. ‘’For the time being, the weather conditions are good; yet, we are to see the state of things in the next 2-3 weeks,’’ Perju added.