The distribution of subsidies in agriculture is a reason for argument between the associations of farmers. Some insist that the subsidies must be distributed equally between the small and large agricultural producers, while others say the current distribution formula is good, but the subsidization fund should be increased.
The chairman of the National Farmers Federation of Moldova Valeriu Cosarciuc said 70% of the agricultural production is ensured by small farmers, but they are entitled to only 20% of the subsidization fund. “We proposed that the subsidization fund should be divided equally - 50% for small farms and 50% for corporate farms. The size of the subsidy for a recipient should be regulated and should be up to 400,000 lei. As a result, more farmers will receive subsidies,” Valeriu Cosarciuc stated in an interview for IPN.
On the other hand, the chairman of the National Union of Associations of Agricultural Producers (UniAgroProtect) Alexandru Slusari considers that the current formula for distributing subsidies is correct, but the agricultural producers should not be divided into large and small. “They all have access to subsidies and can file applications. I think that Mister Cosarciuc’s proposal is artificial,” he stated.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vasile Bumacov said that the subsidies in Moldova are distributed according to the regulations approved by the Government. “I urge Mister Cosarciuc to come and present his arguments and to say which are small farmers and which are large ones. I will prove to him then that the subsidization in our country is based on the 50:50 formula, as he demands,” he said.
The farmers have different opinions as to the subsidy distribution formula. The opinions coincide yet as regards the size of the subsidization fund. They all consider that it should be increased by 240 million lei to almost 650 million lei.
