Agricultural producers seek cheaper loans and non-discriminatory treatment

Cheaper loans, non-discriminatory treatment and subsidies for purchasing fertilizers – these are the demands formulated by farmers at a meeting with Premier Vlad Filat and Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Valeriu Cosarciuc, Info-Prim Neo reports. A number of steps have been taken since the start of this year to help the farmers, Valeriu Cosarciuc said, mentioning the annulment of the restrictions on the sale of grapes and non-bottled wine, the introduction of a series of excise duties on the import of certain goods, the measures aimed at facilitating the sale of national products and simplifying the certification procedure. As to the new regulations concerning the provision of agricultural subsidies, Valeriu Cosarciuc said most of the subsidies were earlier given to large producers, but the new rules create equal conditions for all the farmers. In this connection, Alexandru Slusari, the chairman of the Union “Uniagroprotect”, said the rules should be simplified by canceling certain provisions that impose conditions on the recipients of subsidies, such as the presentation of business plans. The farmers attending the meeting asked the Government to negotiate lower interests rates with the commercial banks and remove the monopoly on the export of cereals. “Vlad Filat is the first Premier that gathered farmers together in 20 years of independence,” said a framer from Sangerei, Vladimir Agachi. He underlined that the producers count on the support of the state. Premier Vlad Filat informed that he will soon go to Brussels and will find out what technical assistance the EU will provide to Moldova, including for agriculture. According to the data made public at meeting, the agricultural production volume in 2009 fell by 10% from 2008. Farmers' debts total 1.5 billion lei. Out of this sum, about 200 million lei represents debts to the state budget.