Area of vineyards will be extended by this yearend

The area of vineyards will be enlarged by 2,300 hectares this year. According to Valeriu Cebotari, division head at Moldova-Vin Agency, 1,700 hectares of land have been planted with vine in spring, while 0.4 hectares – in summer. Another 0.2 hectares will be planted in autumn, Info-Prim Neo reports. “60% of the areas will be planted with table grapes, while 40% - with grapes for wine. A grafted vine costs from 12 to 16 lei,” Cebotari said. A sum of 25,000 lei is allocated from the winegrowing support fund per hectare of grapes for wine, 35,000 lei per hectare of table grapes and 40,000 lei per hectare of parent vines. 50 million lei in subsidies was allocated in the first quarter of this year, as against 87 million lei in 2008.