The farmers who have protested since last week by blocking access to the Leușeni customs post ask the state to identify 400 million lei for subsidies. According to them, this money will help them overcome the difficult situation in which they found themselves. With this financial support, they could buy diesel fuel, seeds and fertilizers. The demands were formulated in a meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, which involved Prime Minister Dorin Recean, IPN reports.
The head of “Farmers’ Force” Association Ion Plămădeală said that the farmers need support to be able to break the impasse. The problem can be solved in two ways. For example, 200 million lei can be allocated from the Subsidization Fund and later this hole can be filled with European funds. Another 200 million lei could be borrowed by the government at an interest rate of 5%, not of 10% as it is for farmers. “The state allocates money to farmers and they start the agricultural year. The problems are overcome and the economic circuit begins. If we do not start this economic circuit, in autumn we will bite our elbows,” stated Ion Plămădeală.
“Farmers’ Force” executive director Alexandru Slusari, said the farmers have a number of demands. “If possible, allocate now 400 million lei to save the farmers. In 2020, 6,000 tonnes of diesel saved the situation that was yet less serious than today. With this money, they will buy diesel fuel because they can no longer wait for the Romanian fuel. They will buy seeds, fertilizers,” noted Alexandru Slusari. According to him, the farmers regret the disturbance caused by the protests, but they have no other way if the authorities are indifferent.
Premier Dorin Recean reminded that in 2023, the state provided 1,240 lei per hectare to 2,161 producers. Then, also in 2023, 3,187 producers got the excise duty on diesel fuel refunded. “1.6 billion lei each year to subsidize investments. Which other sectors receive such subsidies?” asked the official.
According to him, the state has helped the grain producers and will continue to identify more resources. “Blocking roads and customs will not bring more subsidies or allocations from the government for agriculture. Deputy Prime Minister Bolea anticipated the needs of farmers and we eventually supplemented the budget with 400 million lei, specifically for agriculture. If we refer to the current protest, please remember that Deputy Prime Minister Bolea proposed that the Commission for Emergency Situations should allocate an extra 50 million lei to those who were affected by drought in Cahul, Vulcanesti and Edinet, and after that you decided to take to the streets,” said Dorin Recean. He noted that there is no additional money in the budget for compensation.
At the end of the meeting, the farmers and the authorities agreed to resume the dialogue on Tuesday.
