Now that Russia imposed a ban on the import of fruit from Moldova, the Moldovan producers must make maximum effort to enter other markets, including that of the EU, which imposes new quality standards, a group of academicians said in a scientific-practical symposium held at the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, IPN reports.
The Academy’s president Gheorghe Duca said that this ban stimulates the producers to improve the quality of their products. “Owing to Russia’s bans, we have improved the quality of our products. The Moldovan agricultural products are very good as they contain many microelements and substances needed to maintain and fortify health,” said the academician, adding that the products from Moldova can be competitive on all the markets, not only the European ones.
Moldova’s First President, Doctor Honoris Causa of the Academy Mircea Snegur said it is very hard for the producers to reorient exports. “If the Russians do not want to buy our fruit, it is not the end of the world. We must encourage each other and understand that we must reorient ourselves and improve the quality of our products. The European integration will bring benefits in this area. The export to Europe will make us more attentive and consistent in our protection acts. A new stimulus will be given to the development of the fruit and wine growing,” he stated.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Gheorghe Gaberi said the EU market is a serious one, with very harsh requirements, especially as regards the quality and safety of products. A lot is yet to be done to make sure that the products meet all the sanitary and phytosanitary norms to be accepted on the market. Russia may impose new bans, on the import of table grapes this time.
Tatiana Pavliuc, director of the Ocnita fruit-growing association “Plaiul Barladean”, said they already sustained losses following the ban imposed by Russia. Some 200 tonnes of summer apples were sold for making juice for 0.65 lei a kg, at a time when the production price is 2.50 lei. “We had to sell so as not to lose the production. The agriculture minister promises subsidies for processing the apples. If we receive subsidies, we will overcome the problems. If not, we will go bankrupt. Until now we have sustained losses of half a million lei,” she stated.
Russia imposed a ban on the import of fruit from Moldova in the middle of July. Recently, the Russian government announced that they are introducing taxes on the products imported from Moldova, at the same level as in the Russia – Belarus – Kazakhstan Customs Union. The decision will take effect 30 days of the day it is published.
