Exporters of nuts to be obliged to increase allocations to Nut Support Fund

Exporters of nuts will be obliged to allot 1.5% from the exported products’ cost to the Nut Species Support Fund, compared to 1 % at present. This provision is part of a new bill to amend the Walnut Law of October 1999, which stipulates the extension of the Law’s action on other nut bearing species: almond, hazelnut etc. The bill received the go-ahead of the Government this week. This year, for the first time, MDL 3 mln have been provided in the Agriculture Support Fund for encouraging development of nut species. Also, government pledged to allot MDL 400,000 to ensure the activity of the Nut Species Centre. The Centre was created in January 2006 as a state-funded public institution for implementing the National Programme for the development of nut bearing species by 2020. Experts insist that from the 9 world species of walnut, 7 can grow on Moldova’s soil. The specialised ministry intends to increase over fivefold the surface of walnut orchards, in order to reach an essential growth in the exported volume of quality kernel, extremely demanded on European markets. The Ministry plans to reach, till 2015, a total of 16,000 ha of such orchards. The program on expanding walnut orchards is implemented for 3 years already, 4,000 ha being planted. The intention is to plant about 1,000 ha per year in the next several years. Statistics show that 10,000 tonnes of walnut kernel are annually exported at an average price of EUR 5 per kg. Nut species may bring a profit of more than USD 4,000 per hectare a year.