Forta Fermierilor (Farmers' Power) Association asks for a meeting with the new Prime Minister by March 5 to discuss measures to overcome the crisis in the agricultural sector.
During the general meeting of the organization, a declaration was signed, in which its members express their concern about the crisis in the agricultural sector, caused by numerous problems in 2022. "The severe drought significantly reduced the harvest of corn, sugar beets, soybeans and sunflowers. The political ban on the import of Moldovan vegetable products into Russia hit hard the most intensive sub-sectors of agriculture, such as horticulture and viticulture. Excess agricultural production in Ukraine and Russia affected domestic prices for wheat, barley, corn, rapeseed and sunflowers. Many agrarians have to sell their products below production cost when last year the production cost of agricultural products increased by 200-250% in different categories and the interest on loans increased about 2.5 times during the last period. At the same time, agricultural producers are burdened by numerous debts to banks and other creditors," stated the organization. Farmers stressed that the authorities of the country rejected many proposals that would have allowed supporting them, and some bureaucratic obstacles limit the existing support measures. In the signed declaration, Forta Fermierilor reiterated its demands, which will allow overcoming the crisis in the sector. The declaration proposes to accelerate negotiations with the EU on access to European funds for the agricultural sector from 2023 to compensate, following the example of other European countries, the losses of farmers caused by the pressure of cheap production in Ukraine. It is also necessary to negotiate as a priority with Romania to provide assistance in the form of diesel fuel, which should be allocated primarily to small farmers. "Forta Fermierilor proposes to increase the size of the National Fund for Agricultural Development at least to 3 billion lei; to determine with banks and NBM the solution of the crediting problem of the agricultural sector; to make urgent amendments to the Law on VAT refunds to agricultural producers and increase the number of farmers who can receive a refund. The organization proposes to introduce direct payments per kilogram of milk for cattle breeders and reimburse excise duties on diesel fuel purchased by farmers. Another requirement is to completely prohibit individuals and legal entities directly or indirectly controlled by foreigners from owning agricultural land in Moldova. // 20.02.2023 - InfoMarket
