Government asks development partners to help Moldova handle drought consequences

The Government asked for support the development partners of Moldova in order to overcome the difficulties created by the bad weather in spring and summer, PM Vasile Tarlev told a working meeting on the situation in agriculture. According to him, the commercial banks were asked to abstain from harsh measures against the farmers who were granted loans. Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Anatolie Gorodenco said that the harvest of the first group grains is practically finished, the global harvest constituting about 580 thousand tonnes of grains, of which about 410 thousand tonnes of wheat. Vasile Tarlev asked to pay in due time all the subventions planned for the agrifood sector. Additionally to the sum of MDL 7 allotted initially for irrigation, MDL 5 mln was given. At the same time, in order to subsidise the purchase of fertilisers and other related products, MDL 29 mln were added to the sum of MDL 45 mln. MDL 24.5 mln were allotted this year to protect the fields from hail. At present, the protected area constitutes 1 mln hectares.