Agriculture is in a serious decline, is decapitalized and faces multiple problems. It is a situation that cannot be neglected, because agriculture is the strategic branch that represents almost half of the country’s exports, as well as over 35% of jobs. It is the branch that, together with the food industry, contributes directly 21% to the Gross Domestic Product, and 40% indirectly. The statements were made by Farmers’ Force Association during a press conference on Friday.
Ion Plămădeala, president of the Farmers' Force's board, noted that in 2022 agriculture faced drought, enormous costs for diesel, fertilizers and all other components used in farming.
The severe drought affected the corn harvest by 80-90% and the sunflower and beet harvest by 40-50%. The political ban on Moldovan food exports to Russia hit hard in the most intensive sub-sectors of agriculture, such as fruit growing and viticulture. Excess agricultural output in Ukraine, problems with export logistics with road transport, frequent blockages at customs checkpoints influenced prices of wheat, barley, corn, rapeseed and sunflower. Many farmers are forced to sell production below the cost price, even as production costs in some areas increased by 200-400%, and interest on loans has recently increased approximately three times.
“Farmers are the foundation of rural areas, villages, those who still keep jobs. And the saddest thing is that we watch every day how villages grow old and remain increasingly abandoned, which significantly affects the country’s economy”, said Ion Plămădeala.
Alexandru Slusari, executive director of the Association, noted that the 2023 State Budget Law, which was adopted yesterday, contains a smaller subsidy fund than this year’s, and this issue was not even discussed by the government with the farmers. “Our proposals regarding the subsidy fund were ignored, although everyone believed that after we obtain EU candidate status, we will have access to European funds from 2023, which are very important. We see that, on the contrary, the situation is getting worse, especially against the background of all the chronic problems that have accumulated in the agricultural sector”, said Slusari.
The farmers have submitted a series of demands to the government and said they expect a response by February 15, or else they will start protesting.
