The year 2024 could have become a year of revitalization for the tobacco production sector in the Republic of Moldova, if we had not been affected by the severe drought faced by the entire country, said representatives of the public association “Tutun Moldova”. According to them, out of the approximately 400 hectares cultivated with tobacco, two thirds were affected by drought. In an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Dorin Recean and Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vladimir Bolea, they ask constitute a working group to assess the complicated situation of the producers and to draw up and implement a plan of concrete and realistic actions to remedy the state of affairs, IPN reports.
The letter signed by the association’s president Vasile Coșneanu says that the tobacco industry in the Republic of Moldova is a sector with extremely high profitability. In 1985, tobacco was grown on about 77,000 hectares, in the early 1990s – on 32,000 hectares, while in 2023 – on fewer than 200 hectares. In 2000, there were 87 companies on the local market which processed and exported tobacco as raw material. About 14,000 hectares were planted with tobacco and tobacco exports from the Republic of Moldova totaled 21 387 257 kg to the value of over 367 403 824 lei (US$29 549 747 US).
“The year 2024 could have become a year of revitalization for the tobacco production sector in the Republic of Moldova, if we had not been affected by the severe drought faced by the entire country. Starting with 2023, consistent investments have been made to increase capacities, optimize processes and raise the level of profitability. Thus, at the moment, out of the approximately 400 hectares cultivated with tobacco, two thirds have been affected (compromised) by drought. This practically reduces to zero the effort of the few tobacco producers in the Republic of Moldova to continue the development and to bring back to life one of the sectors that was once basic for the national economy,” reads the open letter.
The association “Tutun Moldova” believes that the tobacco production sector can once again become a basic pillar of the national economy, which can provide about 40,000 new jobs in the short and medium term, and the country’s GDP can grow every year by 1% only at the expense of this sector. However, for this to happen, the involvement of the central public authorities is needed.
“In the past 10 years, tobacco harvesting has been equated and integrated into the fight against smoking, but we are all aware of the fact that tobacco is an agricultural product with a high level of profitability. During this entire period, the possibility of receiving any support from the state was not requested or offered. This year, however, the severe drought we are facing made us ask you to order the creation of a working group to assess the complicated situation in which the producers have found themselves and to develop a plan of concrete and realistic actions that would be implemented to remedy the state of affairs. We express our willingness to provide the necessary support to this working group, as we consider that the interest is mutual,” reads the open letter addressed to Prime Minister Recean and Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Bolea.
