Even if the wheat harvest is projected to be lower than last year, the Republic of Moldova will not face a food crisis, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Viorel Gherciu assured. According to him, the food prices are influenced by the prices of energy resources and the Government will provide additional funds to small and medium-sized farmers, IPN reports.
The minister said that owing to the unfavorable weather conditions, the wheat harvest this year is expected to be lower, but the state will have enough quantities of grain for internal consumption and for export.
“The wheat harvest this year is projected to total 1 million tonnes. This is by 30% less than last year. But this quantity fully satisfies the internal needs. Another 200,000-300,000 tonnes will be available for export,” Viorel Gherciu stated in the talk show “Shadow Cabinet” on JurnalTV channel.
The minister admitted that the food prices can rise now that the gas rate was increased and the fuel prices grow daily. But he said that the state will try to stop the rise in the prices of products by subsidizing farmers. The support is intended primarily for farmers who cultivate up to 400 ha of land.
“Everywhere in the world, the subsidization of the agricultural sector is a method for stopping the rise in food prices. The state covers a part of the investment costs of farmers. A part of the measures were already taken. I refer to the augmentation of the subsidization fund, the refunding of 30% of the value of the excise duty on diesel fuel. We already discussed the possibility of fully refunding the excise duty to small and medium-sized farmers in the Government,” stated Viorel Gherciu.
The MPs of the Bloc of Communists and Socialists in the June 2 sitting of Parliament proposed a simple motion against the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry. They argued the situation in agriculture has worsened, while the minister of agriculture does not have a clear strategy for developing the sector. Under the Parliament’s Regulations, a simple motion is debated in a plenary sitting within 14 days of tits submission.
