Members of the Farmers’ Force Association are asking for an urgent meeting with Moldova’s political leadership, including President Maia Sandu, and express their willingness to work with the authorities to identify the most effective mechanisms for supporting the agri-food sector.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Sergiu Stefanco, a farmer, said many of his fellow farmers are beginning the season with a lot of uncertainties. It is not clear how farmers will cope with rising prices for pesticides, fertilizers and fuels. It is time for the government to weigh what is most important now: build roads and renovate schools, for example, or, in the light of what is happening in Ukraine, to take care of the country’s food security, the farmer stated.

Andrei Dînga, a farmer from Ștefan-Vodă, said that the agro-industrial sector is facing an “economic storm”. Fertilizers are expensive and hard to find, diesel fuel is very expensive. There is evidence of “monopolistic deception” in the grain markets. “Everything is against agriculture and farmers”.

Dînga says that it is natural for the government to get involved, to help farmers and thus to take care of the country’s food security. If this does not happen, farmers will go bankrupt and consumers will face rising prices.

Vadim Cebanu, a farmer from Rezina, says that there is no vision and policy to help farmers, despite agriculture being at the heart of the country’s food security. That is why there is a need for dialogue with the country’s leadership.

Mihai Gribincea, a farmer from Hâncești, says that the central and southern districts that were hit by the 2020 drought are now worse than then. Farmers appeal to the government’s common sense and hope for immediate intervention. “The sowing season begins in a couple of days, and without government aid, there is a risk that people will end up without food on the table in the fall”.