2022 was predominantly a lost year for the animal-breeding sector. The sector was concomitancy affected by multiple crises. The prices of inputs and energy resources rose exorbitantly. There was a shortage of fodder and building materials. The interest rates on loans trebled, but the prices of agricultural products were very low, sad representatives of the Association “Force of Farmers”. These called on the authorities to swiftly take a series of measures to support the animal-breeding sector.
“The owners of farms haven’t seen a complex and sustainable state policy concerning the sector, which would simultaneously include financial, scientific support strategies, market protection strategies and uniform and clear regulations. Not even the authorities’ promise to allocate direct payments per liter of milk as from September 2022 has been fulfilled. Moreover, we are in January already and the prospects of these direct payments in the absence of the framework law and the subsidization regulations are uncertain,” Alexandru Slusari, executive director of “Force of Farmers”, stated in a news conference staged by IPN.
Ana Pancrat, a farmer from Edineț district, said that over ten years ago she founded a farm together with her husband from the Netherlands. When she started her business, she realized that the sector was in a bad state, but has potential. “The biggest problem in the Republic of Moldova is that the state works in a segregated way. They dealt with a separate problem and consider that everything is fine. All the problems should be solved in a package and the animal-breeding sector during three-four years can be intensely developed,” noted the producer.
Sergiu Colesnic, a farmer from northern Moldova, told that he has about 100 cows and 74 of them produce milk. 54 cows were imported and he wants to replace the Moldovan race with an imported race. To be able to develop, he needs a stall but does not have available funds. He cannot raise a new loan as he will be unable to repay the loan taken out earlier. He would like the loan interest rates to be lower.
Veaceslav Colesnic, a farmer from Edineț, said that after he worked abroad, he returned home and invested money in a cattle farm. He initially had ten cows, but now has 100 cows and 260 sheep. He wants to extend his business, but is unable to without the authorities’ support. “I would like the state to turn its face to us, to come and see how things stand at farms and how we work. I hired persons and involved my family members too,” stated the farmer.
The representatives of the Association “Force of Farmers” asked to approve the national strategy for developing the animal-breeding sector given the weather-related problems and challenges related to food security, by designing programs for each subsector. They also requested to approve a special program to legalize the work of home farms that produce milk and meat, by providing concessions to these at the first stage.
The farmers demand to be paid direct payments for each liter of milk provided by processing enterprises based on bills, but not later than February 2023. Another request is to increase the subsidies for building farms by at least 25% and to provide the sector with preferential investment loans at small interest rates, by offering state guarantees.
Note: IPN News Agency gives the right of reply to persons who consider they were touched by the news items produced based on statements of the organizers of the given news conference, including by facilitating the organization of another news conference in similar conditions.
