The Special Service for Active Influences on Hydrometeorological Processes presented a project to develop antihail works by increasing the protected areas, mainly in southern Moldova. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, the activity of 80 automated rocket points is to be organized and a command unit will be set up in the administrative building of the Special Service.

In a press release, the Ministry says the improvement of the source of radiolocation information by purchasing two meteorological radars that will be set up in Cimislia and Ceadar-Lunga is another important moment. A working group will be set up to implement the project. A feasibility study will be carried out to determine the estimated cost of investment, technical solutions and sources of financing.

According to the authorities, the efficiency of the antihail works is proven annually by the constant decline in the size of affected protected areas, compared with the unprotected one. The protected areas are affected by hail owing to the insufficient number of rockets, restriction on launching rockets in the direction of settlements and the border and to aviation restrictions.

The antihail works were initiated in Ungheni district in 1964 by creating the first pilot unit in Cornesti town. At the start of the 1990s, protection works were carried out on an area of 2.5 million hectares. A number of 226 rocket points worked within 14 paramilitary units. Only half of those 2.5 million hectares of farmland are now protected from extreme weather conditions.