Forta Fermierilor (Farmers' Power) Association: There is a critical situation with the harvest of some crops in southern Moldova.
In a press release issued on Friday, Forta Fermierilor Association warned that due to the drought in July-August this year, the sunflower harvest in Cahul, Cantemir, Basarabeasca and Leova districts ranges from 0.4 to 1 ton per hectare. Also, according to the Association, massive losses of corn crop are expected. "Only in Cahul district the matter concerns more than 7 thousand hectares of corn, that is, only vegetable mass for silage was harvested from this area, without a single grain of corn. A similar situation is expected in Hincesti, Cimislia, Causeni and Stefan-Voda districts, where the harvest is just beginning. Farmers are desperate. The modest harvest of the second group of crops has further aggravated the crisis situation in which the industry, which has been plagued by numerous crises since 2022 and is practically left without state support, finds itself. Worst of all, agricultural prices remain very low, well below the cost of production. Bankruptcy of thousands of farmers is inevitable," the Association said. Forta Fermierilor also warned that farmers have nothing to lose and it is difficult to foresee their actions. "Especially after the refusal of the Prime Minister to meet with representatives of the Association and discuss the possibility of a 3-month moratorium on payment of agricultural debts, many farmers believe that the government is acting solely in the interests of a narrow group of tycoons who will benefit from the destruction of the micro, small and medium farmers' segment," the Association said. // 08.09.2023 – InfoMarket
