The precipitation in Taraclia district during the past four months was insufficient. Even if all the autumn crops were sowed, these didn’t sprout due to the lack of soil moisture, a representative of the district Agriculture Division stated in an online discussion of officials of local agriculture units with Minister of Agriculture Viorel Gherciu, IPN reports.

Listening to the problems faced by farmers, the minister said the irrigation systems should be rehabilitated. A number of international development partners with which he discussed expressed their readiness to finance such projects in Moldova. The official didn’t say if the financing consists of loans or grants, but noted that even if it is costly, the irrigation systems need to be restored. A relevant strategy is being drafted. Even so, the irrigation systems will not fully solve the problem of inadequate precipitation as water resources are limited. Given the weather conditions, agricultural producers are encouraged to plant crops resistant to drought.

The representative of the Taraclia Agriculture Division also referred to anti-hail stations, saying the rockets launched by these protect only 25% of the farmland from hail. The same issue was broached by the representative of the Șoldănești Agriculture Division. The losses sustained by the farmers from the district following the elements of May-June amounted to several million lei.

Related to this aspect, Minister Viorel Gherciu said the authorities take measures, bur the farmers should also insure themselves against losses. “We will encourage the farmers to resort to insurance of crops, including against rain with hail,” stated the official.

According to the minister, for the first time in the last few years, the Agriculture Subsidization Fund was increased by over 400 million lei. They will have discussions for this fund to be raised further.