Shortage of wheat won't endanger food security, expert

The expected shortage of wheat will not endanger the country’s food security. Viorel Chivriga, program coordinator at the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives “Viitorul” (IDIS), says that the lacking wheat can be easily imported, Info-Prim Neo reports. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry anticipates a total output of autumn wheat of 780 to 795 thousand metric tons, of which food wheat will constitute 250 to 280 thousand tonnes. As the country's demand for food wheat is estimated at 345 thousand tonnes, the deficit will stand at 70 to 95 thousand tonnes, said the ministry in a communique. “This quantity does not endanger the country’s food security. This amount can be imported. In 2007 we had a much worse situation, when the harvest was much poorer than this year. Back then, the country imported the missing wheat for the bakeries just like it did every other year. On the other hand, we should keep in mind that the harvesting process hasn’t ended yet”, Viorel Chivriga stated. According to the expert, a part of this shortage can be covered from the last-year stocks. In January, MAIA announced that wheat producers keep a supply of about 900 thousand tons of bread wheat. The expert says that, because of the forecast shortfall, there is a possibility that the prices of grain crops will raise. “If the prices on the regional market will grow, the same thing will happen in Moldova. In 2008 the prices were rather small compared to 2007. However, during the spring, the trade with grains as well as the prices started to increase. This year the prices are better than at the beginning of the year, but I don’t think that they will remain unchanged for too long”, Chivriga said.