The famers of Ștefan Vodă and Căușeni are protesting at the entrance to Căușeni town, dissatisfied that the Government proposed no solution to the disastrous situation faced in the agricultural sector. The protesters came with tractors that they parked by the roadside. The farmers demand to declare a state of agricultural emergency in the central and southeastern districts of the country and to issue force majeure certificates so as to enable the farmers to reschedule their debts to banks, IPN reports.

According to farmer Andrei Dînga, who serves as a district councilor in Ștefan Vodă, the given measure cannot be put off. They also ask to identify financial resources for covering the costs associated with the purchase of winter wheat seeds. “The wheat harvested now cannot be sowed,” stated Andrei Dînga.

Among other requirements are the exemption from paying salary income taxes and land taxes during 12 months, institution of a moratorium on the payment of delay penalties related to these taxes and covering of at least 50% of the losses sustained by agricultural enterprises due to hail.

The farmers said they sustained huge losses and cannot repay the loans to banks. One of the protesters said that only the state of agricultural emergency can help him overcome the difficulties or he faces bankruptcy. Another farmers from Baimaclia, Căușeni, said the commission for emergencies determined that the first group grain crops were 80% affected, while in the second group, corn was 100% affected, while sunflower 80%.

After the July 27 meeting of senior state officials, Prime Minister Ion Chicu said the farmers affected by the drought will benefit from additional support. The money will be allocated depending on the sustained losses. “We will provide support to the farmers. We allocated 100 million lei from the subsidization fund and today will finalize the regulations concerning the distribution of this money so as to help those who were affected by drought,” stated the official.