Moldovan vegetable growers form professional association

Vegetable growers from 11 districts of the country set up the Association of Vegetable Producers of Moldova with the support of the National Farmers Federation AGROinform, Info-Prim Neo reports. In the constitution assembly, the members of the association said the vegetable growing sector faces a series of problems and the producers hope to solve them in concert. One of the most serious problems is the lack of statistic data concerning the areas cultivated with vegetables, the harvests and the sold quantities. This leads to the appearance of an imbalance on the market – high supply and low prices or vice versa. The vegetable growers said the seeds and phytosanitary products in Moldova are often of a poor quality and are sold at inflated prices. The Moldovan market is not supplied with vegetables outside season and this favors the import. Imports of vegetables over eight months of 2010 totaled US$24.6 million, while in the same period of 2011 – US$30.5 million. Currently, the Association of Vegetable Producers brings together 35 vegetable growers. All the interested producers can become members of this organization.