The amount of 200 million lei promised to drought-hit farmers was supplemented with 100 million lei from the Government’s Intervention Fund, as decided today.
Agriculture Minister Ion Perju said that the amount was increased after a more detailed assessment of crop losses.
Also today, the Government amended the procedure regulating the offering of compensations after farmers complained the rules were rather complicated. “We have excluded the need for the beneficiary to present an extract from the Real Property Register or from the Register of Lease Contracts. The 2,800 agricultural leaders who will receive compensations only have to present a certificate confirming ownership of land issued by the local administration,” explained the minister.
For each hectare sown anew, farmers will receive 1620 lei in compensation, for each hectare of autumn wheat affected by the drought 1500 lei, for each hectare of autumn barley 1530 lei, and for each hectare of autumn rape 2100 lei. The maximum, 3800 lei, will be given for one hectare of strawberries.
Applications will be examined within two weeks.
As a form of support, the Government will expand the program to subsidize interest on loans to farmers, the minister added. A moratorium on fiscal inspections at agricultural enterprises will be in place by the end of this year.
Prime Minister Ion Chicu asked farmers to look at the situation “in a realistic and correct manner.” “The 300 million lei which have been allocated to alleviate the consequences of the drought are money from all yje taxpayers, from all the people who work in Moldova and pay taxes. This is something that beneficiaries of compensations should realize,” Ion Chicu underlined.
The prime minister expressed his hope that the compensations to be received by farmers will enable them to get ready for the autumn sowing and other necessary works, in the hope that the next agricultural year will be more auspicious.