Prime Minister Ion Chicu said the agricultural year is expected to be very difficult owing to drought. “Preliminary estimates show the country’s food security at this stage is not in danger as there are sufficient supplies in storehouses and in the state reserve,” the official stated at the beginning of the April 29 meeting of the Cabinet, IPN reports.
Premier Chicu said that he had discussions with expert, members of the academia and agricultural producers. It is already clear that the agricultural sector will be affected by this drought. The southern districts of Moldova will be hit the worst. Central Moldova is partially affected, while the northern districts are affected to a lesser extent.
According to the estimates of the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, the wheat harvest will be by 40-50% lower. To get a clearer picture, the Ministry next week will carry out a new assessment. When the analyses are completed, extra measures will be considered, including the possibility of additionally subsidizing the interest rates on loans for the affected farmers.
