Only 20% of the fruit in Moldova can be exported to the EU as they meet the European quality standards. To be able to sell the other 80% of the fruit, the agricultural producers must invest in technologies, said the rector of the State Agrarian University of Moldova Gheorghe Cimpoes, quoted by IPN.

The rector said the market requirements are very strict and the Moldovan producers cannot fulfill them. Considerable investments are needed as the technologies are costly. The EU standards are known in Moldova, but not many producers made effort to implement them as they could export to Russia without meeting many conditions.

According to Gheorghe Cimpoes, technologies are needed to protect the fruit from the late spring ground frost, hail and heavy rain. For the fruit to be riper, the farmers must make sure that the sun’s rays reach all the fruit. For the purpose, they lay a piece of polyethylene between rows in modern orchards, which reflect the rays in the crown. Other technologies are related to irrigation, including above the crown, by small quantities of water, several times a day. The fruit grows larger and is colored more intensely and on a larger part of its area.

As to the quality of fruit, the rector gave an example. The apples of the highest quality must present the form, type and color typical of the soil on which they grow and must have the peduncle intact and the pulp perfectly healthy. These apples must not have defects. They must be red on 3/4 of their area and be minimum 60 millimeters in diameter or weigh minimum 90 grams.

“So, in order to ensure the necessary quality, the technologies for setting up and maintaining plantations must be strictly respected and all the growing stages must be followed. They do so in the whole civilized world,” said Gheorghe Cimpoes.

The EU doubled the import quotas on particular Moldovan fruit from August 1, following the ban imposed by Russia on the import of canned and fresh Moldova fruit in the middle of July.