The medicinal plants and essence and oleaginous plants are very popular on the European markets and the Moldovan farmers could satisfy this demand if they invested more in this field. Particular types of fruit, like the flat peaches, are also in demand abroad, said the director of the National Food Safety Agency Gheorghe Gaberi, quoted by IPN.

In a news conference, Gaberi said the pharmaceutical industry develops and the demand for medicinal plans on foreign markets is very great and this is an area that the Moldovan farmers could easily assimilate. Perfumery is another area that needs raw material in considerable volumes. The areas sowed with essence and oleaginous plants, such as lavender, have been expanded in Moldova during the last few years. These plants bring large revenues to producers, especially because they can be cultivated in the absence of irrigation systems.

According to the Agency’s director, investments are required in fruit production. Apples are produced in large quantities by other countries too, such as Poland, and Moldova does not yet cope with the competition, especially because sorts that are less popular are grown here. The Moldovan farmers could focus on growing early season apples as there are some free niches in this regard.

However, Gheorghe Gaberi considers that Moldovan producers should provide more stone fruit such as cherries, which are in demand on the Asian markets, namely China, Japan and Hong-Kong, where their price is high. The flat peaches are also popular, including on the domestic market.

The director also said that recently Moldova was visited by a Spanish businessman who offered the Moldovan farmers to grow sweet potatoes. The people in Spain also like a sort of eggplants that are cultivated now only in China and are rather expensive. The farmers should examine the demand on the foreign markets and find niches where competition is less stiff.