Moldovan agriculture minister assesses agricultural sector

Chisinau, 24 November /MOLDPRES/ - The achievements of the agro-industrial complex in 2023, the activities carried out by the government to support the farmers, the perspectives of agricultural and rural development, the mechanisms of providing subsidies, the problems, the identification and updating of the priorities in the agricultural sector were the main bench marks presented by Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Vladimir Bolea at a news briefing today.     

The official referred to a string of normative amendments which regard the subsidized insurance in agriculture.  The amendments made by the cabinet are aimed at protecting the interests of the farmers and extending the possibilities of insuring the agricultural assets. According to Vladimir Bolea, the ministerial team is aware of the situation in the agriculture; therefore, it is concerned about the finding of solutions to reduce the impact, the consequences existing on farmers. ‘’The serious situation related to the climate changes was fostered by the collapse of  prices for inputs and the war in Ukraine, which led to logistic and export difficulties. All these prompted the government to take diverse measures, in order to back the producers on the agrarian dimension,’’ the minister said.    

„We continue improving the road and railway infrastructure, we optimize the logistics, we prepare the launch of a system of relieving the customs offices and we create an electronic register for the export of cereals. In 2024, we will increase the allocations for farmers. At the same time, our priority is to enhance the productivity of our farmers, through the attraction of investments in the agriculture’s industrialization. We will come up with a new concept for the development of the agricultural sector; yet, till then, we will look for solutions to access European funds for the support of the farmers,’’ the agriculture minister said.    

Also, Bolea reviewed the progress made in the field, recorded this year. It is about the record figures in fruit growing, especially in the export of plums, vine-growing and wine-making sectors, extending the sales markets, new startups, etc. ‘’These are the results  of the work of the farmers who associated – mechanism promoted and supported by the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry. Our power lies in association,’’ Vladimir Bolea stressed. In this context, the agriculture minister urged the producers who had got into a deadlock, who have enforcement titles and who are in a default, to appeal to either to the agriculture territorial departments or the regional structures of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in order to appeal to the force majeure assistance.      

„We have big plans to turn this sector competitive and efficient. A strong agro-industrial sector means an insured country and this is the foremost goal of the Agriculture Ministry, which will implement policies of backing the field, supported by the government and the development partners,’’ Vladimir Bolea added.    

The Day of Agriculture and Processing Industry Employee is annually marked in Moldova on the fourth Sunday of November.