Moldovan farmers, while threatening new protests, insist on a moratorium of at least 3 months on loan repayments to banks and a meeting with the Prime Minister.
According to a report by Forța Fermierilor (Farmers' Power) Association, the day before, its Board met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vladimir Bolea, and "the meeting was difficult and at times very heated". The farmers clarified the timing of their compensation and the delivery of diesel fuel from Romania. They made sure that this support, albeit small, will not reach the affected farmers before October. Moreover, there is still no answer from the European Union regarding the provision of financial support to the Moldovan agricultural sector in connection with the war in Ukraine, requested by the government with a big delay in June 2023, although Forta Fermierilor Association insisted that this request should be made at the beginning of this year. It is emphasized that in this context, the main topic of discussions with the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture was a moratorium of at least 3 months on the accrual of penalties and interest, enforcement of liens and initiation of insolvency proceedings against farmers who mainly grow cereals and oilseeds. "This measure does not require the allocation of money from the state budget, will have virtually no impact on the financial condition of banks, microfinance institutions and resource providers, but could be the last lifeline for tens of thousands of micro, small and medium-sized farmers, giving them a respite until prices for wheat, barley and rape stabilize. The moratorium could be introduced by decision of the Commission for Emergency Situations. In 2020, Moldova had a legal precedent, when such measures were applied to the whole economy," Forta Fermierilor Association reminded. At the end of the discussions, the members of the Board of this Association regretted that the head of the Agriculture Ministry does not realize the gravity of the situation in agriculture for micro, small and medium-sized farmers, who, since 2022, have been left practically without any support to overcome the multiple crises that simultaneously affected the agricultural sector. The farmers also pointed out that the head of the Agriculture Ministry, Vladimir Bolea, uses data on the harvest of the first group of cereals from unverified sources and operates with wrong figures on the expenses per hectare of wheat, although there is an international study commissioned by the Agriculture Ministry, which estimates the average expenses at 18,000 lei per hectare of wheat. The farmers brought to the Minister's attention figures that show that if the wheat harvest is above average this year, the farmers incur significant losses at the current low prices. In this regard, Forta Fermierilor Association asked the head of the Agriculture Ministry to organize a meeting with the Prime Minister no later than next week. Farmers stressed that now is the moment of truth, and the state should show on facts whether it protects the interests of a large number of farmers, who are now in extremely difficult situation, or acts in favor of a narrow group of oligarchs-transnationals. Forta Fermierilor Association said it continues to demonstrate constructive behavior and great patience. "We need a bailout for real farmers and we offer solutions every time, while taking into account the state's capacity. However, if we do not hold discussions with Prime Minister next week or these discussions don’t yield any result, our reaction will be tough. Then we will announce the society when, how and what slogans we will go with to the protests," Forta Fermierilor Association said. // 18.08.2023 - InfoMarket.
