The impact of last summer’s drought was devastating for the Moldovan agriculture, with the agricultural output totalling about 9.4 billion lei, 23.1% down compared with 2006 (12.3 billion lei). Vegetal production fell 33.4% to 5.5 billion lei and animal production decreased by 1.8% to 3.9 billion lei, Info-Prim Neo reports. Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Anatolie Gorodenco stated at a meeting of the Ministry’s Board that thanks to the prompt responses of the Government and our partners, it was possible to alleviate the negative impact of the drought on the welfare and food security of the population; all autumn farming works were performed successfully, the seed and fodder funds, as well as the genetic fund of the livestock were preserved, and other devastating effects were mitigated. 2008 will be a year of modernisation, when new power-saving and humidity-preserving technologies will be implemented, the minister said. It will also be a year which will give start to the extension of irrigated areas, to the re-equipment and modernisation of processing enterprises from rural areas, to the diversification of markets and increased exports to Europe. Premier Vasile Tarlev remarked that despite all difficulties, the food security of our country was ensured and the most part of agricultural lands were farmed. The Premier appreciated the modernisation and mechanisation efforts made in the agricultural sector by creating the farm vehicle stations (FVS). Today 178 FVS work on the territory of Moldova, operating 7,000 imported tractors and combines. Owing to the opening of such stations, about 300,000 ha of land have been consolidated and about 1,000 new jobs have been created. The Premier stressed the necessity of reforming the ministry and the importance of reorganising the institutions under its subordination in an effort to align the agrifood administration system with European standards, by separating policy-making from executing agencies.