Grain to be harvested later

The cereal crops harvesting campaign will start after July 1, although, they planned to start it two weeks earlier, Info-Prim Neo has learnt from the Agriculture Ministry. The total wheat harvest is expected to be some 1.2 million tonnes, twice the amount of last year. Harvesting is delayed by the recent frequent rains, what made the cereals need more time to vegetate, Minister Anatolie Gorodenco told a sitting. He says the harvesting campaign will be problematic this year, since most of the areas have a high percentage of weeds. 30 companies collecting and processing cereals work now in Moldova. They can store 1.16 million tonnes of grains. According to “Moldagroteh” manager, Petru Poian, three mobile centers will work in the North, the Center and the South of the country to repair and service farming equipment. 3,000 harvesters and 2,185 reapers will be involved in the campaign this year. In 2008, the area of the 1st group cereals is 570,000 ha, compared to 480,000 ha in 2007.