The vice president of the Party “Dignity and Truth Platform” (PPPDA), MP Alexandru Slusari said the situation of the second group grain crops, such as corn, sunflower and sugar beet, is more serious than the situation of the first group grain crops that were affected by drought. According to him, even if particular measures were taken, funds for the second group grain crops weren’t earmarked. Therefore, the PPPDA MPs ask that the subsidization fund should be increased by 400 million lei, IPN reports.

In a press briefing, Alexandru Slusari said that during the last three weeks, he almost daily had meetings with farmers from all over the country. The consequences of drought will be even more serious for the second group grain crops. Many farmers are in despair and remained face to face with their problems. The small and midsize farmers are the worst affected. The holdings are waiting for the sector to become insolvent so as to take over the businesses of rural farmers.

He noted the MPs proposed amendments to the budget and these also refer to the VAT refund. But this measure is insufficient and fragmentary also because many of the small farmers are not VAT payers. Despite the proposed changes, no money was allocated for the second group grain crops. But the number of affected farmers growing such crops will be higher than in the case of the first group grain crops.

Alexandru Slusari stated that many proposals remained on paper and the rescheduling of debts wasn’t implemented. In the case of the second group grain crops, there were adopted only the amendments concerning the VAT refund and the moratorium on inspections, but these measures are valid for a period of four months only. In this regard, the PPPDA prepared a series of amendments, including the raising of the subsidization fund by 400 million lei. The money can be redirected from the rehabilitation of roads.

The PPPDA MPs also insist on the extension of the VAT refund program and the moratorium on fiscal inspections until September 30, 2021.