Farmers who cultivated sunflower in 2022 and were affected by drought will be eligible to receive foreign assistance in the form of diesel fuel, IPN reports.

The Cabinet extended the list of beneficiaries by amending the regulations concerning the distribution of the diesel fuel in foreign assistance intended for farmers affected by the 2022 drought.

“To protect the farmers from insolvency and to ensure food safety in the Republic of Moldova, sunflower seed producers should also be able to benefit from this assistance,” said Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Bolea, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry.

According to official data collected by local public authorities’ subdivisions responsible for the agricultural sector, about 165,000 ha had been sowed with sunflower.

Romania provides 6,000 tonnes of diesel fuel to support the Moldovan farmers affected by drought last year. Assistance will be offered to farmers whose crops were at least 50% affected by drought.