Agricultural product prices almost halved from last year

The prices of agricultural products in the first half of this year have dropped by 46% compared with the corresponding period last year. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the price of wheat fell by over 66%, of corn by 62%, of sunflower by 57.2%, of vegetables by 46%, etc. The prices of animal products yet decreased by 12% on average. Eggs got cheaper by 28.7%, while milk by 13%. The selling price of live cattle for meat rose by 18.4%, of sheep and goats – by 11.5%, of swine – by 10%. According to Viorel Chivriga, expert in agriculture of IDIS Viitorul, the decrease in the prices of agricultural products was influenced by the lower demand and lower exports. Though the harvesting period is only in the middle, the market is stagnant and the farmers encounter difficulties. Therefore, their incomes and, as a result, their possibilities will diminish. Viorel Chivriga considers that the reduction in the agricultural product prices and in farmers’ revenues will make the preparation of the land for the next season more difficult. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry late in June announced that the agricultural production was by 2.6% higher than a year earlier.