More fruits and vegetables

In 2008, Moldova plans to grow 765,000 tonnes of fruits and vegetables, including 365,000 tonnes of fruits and 400,000 tonnes of vegetables. The total output of fruits and vegetables grown in 2007 amounted to 570,000 tonnes, of which 310,000 tonnes of fruit and 260,000 tonnes of vegetables. According to the data of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAFI), cited by Info-Prim Neo, the expected quantity of raw material according to the production plans of the canning factories for the current processing season makes up 240,000 tonnes, including 190,000 tonnes of fruits and 50,000 tonnes of vegetables. The production capacity of the enterprises from the given branch is of 185,000 tonnes of cans, of which 30,000 tonnes are produced by small and medium-sized enterprises. Canneries purchased and processed last year 196,000 tonnes of raw material, which makes up 36% of the total output. This year, MAFI intends to set up councils that will monitor each product line, to continue the opening of processing enterprises in the rural areas. The Ministry also plans to expand by 4,800 ha the new areas planted with fruit trees, including super-intensive orchards with an increased plant density, up to 2,500 fruit trees/ha with dripping irrigation. It also intends to consolidate the land, to support agricultural producers with a view to implement European standards regarding the quality of products and to prepare Moldovan agriculture for the integration into the EU agriculture, as well as to use to the maximum the advantages offered by the asymmetric trade regime with EU countries.