Law on Walnut will be amended to assure optimum environment for the branch’s development

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAIA) initiated discussions with producers and exporters of the field regarding amendments to the Law on Walnut in order to assure an optimum legislative environment for the branch’s development. This announcement was made by the minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, Anatolie Gorodenco, during a meeting of the National Council for Walnuts Promotion. During the meeting, Premier Vasile Tarlev mentioned that for the development and improvement of the productive potential of walnuts, the Government must make sure producers have the highest quality material, that they implement industrial technologies of processing and European standards in the field, and that they renew and expand the area of walnut plantations. Considering this, the head of the Executive supported the legislation modification, to be done in shortest terms. The premier also required the elaboration of an action plan that will create an efficient quality control of the walnuts and will monitor the quality of the seeding material. Scientific support in selecting walnuts with a productivity rate will be offered by the National Walnuts Center. MAIA plans to increase 5-fold the surface of walnuts plantations, in order to considerably increase the export volume of quality walnuts, a very popular product on European markets. The ministry is planning to reach by 2015 sixteen thousand hectares of walnut plantations. According to statistics, each year 10 thousand tonnes of walnut kernel are exported, with an average price of EUR 5 per kg. Walnuts can bring profits of more than USD 4 thousand per hectare.