Representatives of agricultural producers and former minister of agriculture Vasile Bumacov accuse the Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture of employing corruption schemes that hinder the sector’s development. The accusations were made in the talk show “Politics” on TV 7 channel, IPN reports.
Aliona Mandati, fruit producer from Floresti district, said that owing to the corruption schemes used by the Agency, the farmers are prevented from making important investments. “The farmers are put in the situation to give bribe so as to get subsidies. Everyone knows that those from the Agency ask for at least 20% of the amount of subsidy. Therefore, many of the farmers do not apply for subsidies. On the other hand, the farmers are intimidated by the law enforcement bodies and are afraid to declare the cases of corruption. I personally was searched and my employees were stressed,” she stated.
UniAgroProtect chairman Alexandru Slusari accused the political class of the corruption schemes employed in agriculture. “The corruption schemes in the subsidization of agriculture have existed for a long time, but became known only now, owing to the war between the PLDM and PDM. All the corruption schemes in agriculture are protected by the government and will disappear only with the replacement of the political class,” he stated.
Ex-minister of agriculture Vasile Bumacov admitted to the existence of corruption schemes in agriculture, but noted that they appeared only last year. “The Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture went out of the Ministry’s control in 2014. I went to a meeting to see what was going on, but I was told subtly that I must not become involved. I understood that they were supported by the Prosecutor’s Office and the National Anticorruption Center. I asked the foreign partners to intervene, but things didn’t change. On the contrary, I was attacked from all sides,” he stated.
The Prosecutor General’s Office last week announced that 34 criminal cases were started over corruption in agriculture subsidization.
