Moldovan farmers threaten protests over state inaction
Farmers in Moldova are once again threatening to protest. They argue that the new agricultural year is at risk of being compromised, not only by natural disasters but especially by the "lack of effective state intervention in the cereals and oilseeds sector."
When asked for a comment, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, Ludmila Catlabuga, stated that the authorities are in talks with farmers to find "quick and effective solutions."
Farmers claim that, in the 2024-2025 agricultural season, many are entering the season without the financial means and resources to continue their work, having been denied credit by financial institutions and lenders.
Beyond the issue of inadequate access to affordable long-term financing for farmers on the brink of bankruptcy, we have heard from the Ministry of Finance that they do not intend to quickly implement the support measures for farmers, despite these being outlined in legislation and promised repeatedly by the government and parliament, notes the "Forța Fermierilor" Association. In principle, they reject the reimbursement of the diesel excise for 2024 and question the extension of the VAT reimbursement program, which the state is legally obligated to return to farmers under the applicable special law, the association adds. Over the last two weeks, we have had productive technical meetings, during which we identified the association’s demands. The farmers have also presented their proposals so that we can jointly intensify dialogue with government colleagues, particularly regarding VAT reimbursement.
These demands could lead to long-term solutions, given the processes that are yet to unfold.
It should be noted that, last year, the drought affected more than 350,000 hectares of agricultural land, including corn, sunflower, wheat, and other crops. According to the "Forța Fermierilor" Association, many cereal and oilseed producers are unable to begin the new agricultural season due to the losses they have sustained. In recent weeks, representatives of the association have met with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Finance, and the Parliament to find solutions. However, these meetings have not yielded the expected results for farmers.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
