The agricultural year 2018 is expected to be as favorable as last year, even if the winter crops went out of the biological break almost two weeks later. The snow and low temperatures of March didn’t affect the winter crops. The conclusions were presented in a news conference that centered on the state of the winter crops and the start of spring agricultural works, IPN reports.

Vasile Luca, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, said that over 400,000 hectares last year were sowed with wheat, barley or rape. The weather conditions in winter were favorable for the development of these crops and multiannual crops. The water reserve in soil is now one of the largest during the past five years. The moisture level in soil is even lower than a meter.

As regards spring sowing, Vasile Luca said the crops will occupy an estimated area of over 950,000 hectares. There will be cultivated corn, sunflower, soybean, barley and other crops. The farmers were almost fully provided with the necessary seeds and plantlets. As the spring works are to be launched, the first payments were already made from the Agriculture Subsidization Fund so as to avoid plowing and sowing delays.

As to the protection of farmland from hail, Vasile Luca said 132 anti-hail rocket points work in 24 districts and these protect 1.6 million ha of farmland or 90%. Another 11 points, in Stefan Voda and Causeni, are to be launched this year.

Vasile Luca called on the farmers to insure the farmland against tempests so as to avoid damage. Not many farmers use this instrument. Last year, only 2% of the farmland was insured.

Vasile Darban, division head at the Ministry of Agriculture, urged the farmers not to forget that summers in Moldova are dry and they should avoid the excessive crossing of farmland with machinery and prevent the evaporation of water. April is the most difficult month for farmers as this is a period of possible ground frosts.