The Government’s intention to promote a bill on introducing a flat-rate tax in agriculture, starting with 2013, is a good one, but the producers want a reasonable and sustainable rate for this tax, stated Alexandru Slusari, head of the National Association of Farmers “UniAgroProtect”. “UniAgroProtect had come up with idea a long time ago, because we understand that it would ease farmers’ lives and substantially improve fiscal administration. Nevertheless, everything depends on the rate of the flat tax that the Government is willing to accept”, said Slusari. According to him, over a month ago, when an exchange of ideas on the matter took place, the rate proposed by the Ministry of Finance was of 6 lei per degree-hectare. “It is an exaggerated rate, and producers will not be able to pay it, especially after the drought, the consequences of which will be felt by producers next year. We believe that this rate cannot be higher than 3 lei per degree-hectare”, he specified. The UniAgroProtect president believes that in the near future, before forwarding the bill to the Government, the Ministry of Finance should meet with producers’ associations and discuss three essential issues. They refer to the rate of the flat tax to be applied to the agrarian sector, the field of application of the tax, and also, the terms of payment for the flat-rate tax, since agricultural works are season-bound. “If consensus is reached on all three issues, the bill will be supported and, believe me, there will be much more transparency in the activity of farmers, clearer “game rules”, less possibilities for corruption and bribery, and more money to the Budget”, added Slusari. A degree-hectare is a conventional unit of measure and is the equivalent of a field of 1 hectare with land worthiness of one degree within built-up areas. In practice, 6 lei per degree-hectare imply 600 lei per land hectare per year, and 3 lei – 300 lei per hectare. Previously, the Farmers’ Association had proposed 1.8 lei per degree-hectare, i.e. 180 lei a year per hectare.