MAE suggests plan to avoid rise in bread prices

The European Action Movement (MAE) Party says it is concerned about the predicted low yield of grains and proposes a plan themed “Bread for All” to avoid rises in bread prices. “We are deeply concerned that this year the output of grains is expected to be 240,000 tonnes, by 60,000 tonnes short of the domestic demand”, MAE leader Veaceslav Untila told a news conference on Tuesday. Veaceslav Afanasiev, a MAE member and a doctor of agriculture, explained the situation was caused by high temperatures combined with greater than average rainfall and floods, which reduced the yield to 5-6 quintals per hectare. Veaceslav Afanasiev says that in order to avoid rises in bread prices the Government should buy wheat from the domestic producers at a price of 2 to 2.2 lei per kilogram and stock up to 120,000 tonnes; farmer subsidies should be supplemented by at least 200 million lei; and seeding materials should be subject to subsidization. The plan “Bread for All” is to be presented to the Alliance for European Integration.