Government to expand hail-protected areas

The Government allotted 7 million lei from the reserve fund to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry to be used for the expansion of hail-protected areas; the money is to be recovered following budget readjustment, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to Minister of Agriculture Valeriu Cosarciuc, the Special Service of Weather Control has a budget of 35.3 million lei to protect 900 hectares of farmland. The 7 million lei allotment will allow protected areas to be enlarged to 1.4 million hectares. The money will be used to buy 2,000 anti-hail rockets, in addition to the 1,300 already stocked at launching points. The Minister actually requested 15 million lei, but it will have to do with only half of the requested sum. Nevertheless, Minister Cosarciuc stressed the money would be used so that the Service should be able to perform its tasks.