Agricultural producers from the northern districts are heading for Chisinau to stage protests. They demand taking immediate measures to offset the consequences of the ban imposed by Russia on the import of fresh and canned fruit. Senior state officials intend to pay visits to companies in northern Moldova to consider solutions to the created situation, IPN reports.

Press secretary of the People’s Committee of Agricultural Producers from the northern districts Veaceslav Valico has told IPN that the agricultural producers on August 5 mounted a protest on the most important international roads in northern Moldova, which will be continued the next days. On August 6, a column of agricultural machines will be heading to Chisinau to protest before the Government Building. Today’s protest involved farmers from Briceni, Ocnita, Otaci, Rascani, Soroca, and Edinet.

According to a communiqué of the Social Democratic Party, the party’s secretary general Sergiu Coropceanu issued a warning to Prime Minister Iurie Leanca in the name of the agricultural producers, by which they ask taking immediate measures to remedy the situation, including setting up a working group that will include agricultural producers.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vasile Bumacov told the journalists that the protests staged by the agricultural producers are political in character. Some of the politicians profit from the difficult situation of the farmers and manipulate them. A meeting will be held with agricultural producers to discuss the measures that can be taken in the current conditions. On August 7, Prime Minister Iurie Leanca will travel to the northern districts to meet the processors.

On July 21, Russia imposed a ban on the import fresh and canned fruit from Moldova.