2011 was a good agricultural year that will end with a 4.8% increase in the global agricultural output, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vasile Bumakov said, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. “The risks in agriculture can be never excluded. The drought of August-September caused great problems to the producers. The grapes were of a high quality and I think we will speak about extraordinary wines made from the harvest of 2011. But other crops were damaged, especially the rape and sugar beet. Nevertheless, a shortage of sugar is not expected,” said the minister. Problems were also encountered with the sowing of winter wheat. “The fields of the farmers who sowed the wheat before it rained look well, but the fields sowed after the precipitation fell do not look as well. However, there are about 270,000 hectares of winter wheat that are in a good state. The country’s food security is ensured with wheat harvested from approximately 250,000 hectares,” stated Vasile Bumakov. According to the minister, exports of agrifood products increase at a higher rate than imports. The exports this year will rise by an estimated 12% to US$821 million compared with 2010. Imports will total US$614 million, up 3.6% from last year.