In eight-ten years, the wine industry in the Republic of Moldova risks remaining without raw material. The areas sowed with unpopular types of grapes inherited from the Soviet period are the major problem. To change the situation, the authorities aim to increase the subsidies for planting new vineyards and for installing modern support networks in young vineyards, IPN reports.

In the discussions with authorities, grape processors expressed their readiness to annually plant 100 ha with varieties of grapes for making wine and to set up support, irrigation systems to mechanize the cultivation process. They are also willing to sign long-term contracts with those who want to plant vineyards in areas near localities where there are processing units, says a note of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry.

The Ministry suggests redistributing the money from the National Agriculture Development Fund and increasing the subsidies for establishing vineyards depending on the density of vines per hectare and for installing and modernizing support systems for young vineyards.

At the insistence of expert associations, it is proposed raising the subsidization caps, like the cap on anti-hail equipment. The subsidy will be calculated after the last installment is paid and the anti-hail equipment becomes property of the applicant, but not more than 200,000 lei/ha, instead of 100,000 lei/ha at present.

Until 2021, the Moldovan wines were considered attractive by price and high quality on the world market and were therefore rather popular. The price per liter of wine now rose by over 25% and the Moldovan wines at such a price have to compete with wines made in France, Italy, Spain and this is not at all easy. The potential importers prefer brands that are more known than the brand “Wine of Moldova”.