Fourfold larger tax for land left uncultivated

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry suggests imposing a progressive tax on persons who leave their land lie fallow. According to Minister Vasile Bumacov, the move is aimed at making those who buy land and do not cultivate it, but wait for its price to go up more responsible, Info-Prim Neo reports. “There are companies that purchase land, profiting from the fact that the land is now cheap in Moldova. They wait for the land prices to double when the Association Agreement is signed or even increase fivefold when Moldova becomes an EU member,” said the minister. Vasile Bumacov stated that the diligent farmers suffer the consequences when the land is unfarmed. “There are many settlements where the cultivated land is adjoined by untilled land and the diseases spread from crop to crop,” he said. According to the minister, more than a half of the 200 ha left to lie fallow is owned by large companies that want to make profit when the land grows dearer. “By introducing a higher tax, we will make them lease the land out or cultivate it,” said Vasile Bumacov. He also said that the tax will amount to 800 lei a year, from 200 lei at present.