Chicken farmers throughout the country find themselves in a situation where they’ll have to reduce their poultry numbers if the feed prices keep rising. In order to avoid this situation, they sent a petition to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, as well as to the Government, in which they demand the suspension of customs taxes and VAT on the import of feed grains. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, head of the Riscani district-based “Avicola” Farm Iurie Urzica stated that he plans a reduction of the poultry population by 50%. “We have cereal plantations that are sown and worked at our poultry farm, but we had losses due to our fields placement in the north of the country, the part which was most affected by this year’s drought. Thus, territories that usually yield over 3 tons of grains, yielded only 600 tons. In this situation, we are forced to cut the poultry and buy more grain; otherwise we won’t survive”, stated Iurie Urzica. The “Avicola” director added that grain prices have risen by almost 2 lei already. Corn has reached the price of 4 lei per kilogram. Head of the state Scientific Production Enterprise “Avicola-Moldova” Ion Bizgu state that Moldova’s chicken farming sector needs about 250,000 tons of grains. These quantities are available, but there are other branch that need grains. For re tureason, chicken farmers petitioned the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry. “We requested the suspension of the VAT and customs tax for the import of feed, in order to cushion the price increases a bit. For 2013, Moldova is already stocked with the amount of poultry necessary for the production of meat and eggs. The situations is currently under control, and we hope that the MAFI, as well as the Government will grant our requests”, stated Ion Bizgu. There are over 15 producers of chicken eggs and meat in Moldova.