Climate change requires us to rethink what crops we choose to cultivate. Moldova practically doesn’t have an “agricultural spring” anymore, as the typical three weeks destined for sowing have now been reduced to no more than a week and a half. This means that there is almost no transition from the “agricultural winter” to the “agricultural summer”, which has consequences on the harvest and influences trade. This was stated by Iurie Ușurelu, state secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, during the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Agricultural Trade Expert Network in Europe and Central Asia, taking place in Chisinau on June 5 and 6.
According to Iurie Ușurelu, there are several programs supported by the government and international partners to prevent or overcome the consequences of unfavorable climatic conditions. One of them involves developing the anti-hail network. “In 2018, the surface area of agricultural land covered by anti-hail protection increased significantly, with 11 rocket systems being installed in Hâncești and 7 in Cantemir”. To further reduce the impact of climate change, new methods of assisting agricultural producers are approved, including measures to provide better insurance.
Iurie Ușurelu also said that agriculture will not become profitable as long as the cultivated crops don’t sell well. Currently over 60% of exports go to the EU markets. The focus is on exploring new markets, with China being a desirable destination in this respect. “China is currently one of the most stable importers of quality Moldovan wines. 12% of all wines exported from Moldova are now on the Chinese market,” the state secretary says.
During the event organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, FAO economist Irina Kobuta said said China’s imports of agricultural products has grown due to the rising food demand and the shift from the self-sufficiency policy to the one that favors a more open trade, turning China into the world’s third importer after the United States and the European Union. “Countries in the region need to strengthen their cooperation by becoming better prepared and better informed to take advantage of this opportunity,” the economist said.
The meeting brights together agricultural trade experts and government representatives from 12 post-Soviet countries.
