Authorities shape intentions regarding future agroindustrial policies

The basic objectives and structure of the draft National Strategy for Sustainable Development of the Agroindustrial Sector can center on two key moments: guaranteeing of the country’s food security and Moldova’s preparation for joining the EU. The following can be used as tools for achieving them: removing the burden of agricultural subsidies from the national budget’s shoulders, consolidating vertical administration in the area, consolidating the agricultural land, depoliticizing agriculture etc. President Vladimir Voronin spoke about this topic at the meeting of the Board of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry. According to a communiqué from the presidential press service, the head of state said that the economic aspect of the strategy must be devised in such a way that the national budget does not bear the burden of agricultural subsidies anymore. He specified that only the strategic agricultural areas could be further subsidized. Voronin stressed the importance of ensuring a close and efficient cooperation between the relevant ministries and the specialized district divisions. If the vertical administration in agriculture is not strengthened, the plans of modernizing and developing the agroindustrial sector could not be implemented, Vladimir Voronin said. In another connection, the chief of state said that the politicization of the agricultural sector must not be admitted in the future, highlighting that the experience of the 16 years of independence clearly showed that such approaches are inefficient. The president expressed his regret about the fact that the agroindustrial sector remains very conservative as most of the specialists in the area, including the scientists, are elderly and have obsolete visions on the sector’s development prospects. In the context, Vladimir Voronin underlined the necessity of channelling young, competent staff into the agroindustrial sector. Speaking about the consolidation of agricultural land, the head of state said that to step up this process, the agricultural producers should find the given idea attractive. Vladimir Voronin reiterated the necessity of promoting organizational patterns that would ensure an efficient activity in agriculture.