AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN MOLDOVA GREW 3.7% OVER A YEAR

Moldovan agriculture exceeded 22.509 million lei, which is 3.7% more than over the equivalent period of 2016 (in compared prices).

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), this is due to 6.3% growth in the volumes of goods, produced by plant cultivation sector, though the animal husbandry production fell 1.5%.

According to preliminary data, the harvest of grain and leguminous in 2017 accounted for 1.56 million tons – 2.5% less than last year, including wheat – 1.23 million tons (-4.4%), barley – 246 thousand tons (-3.9%), leguminous – around 70 thousand tons (1.8 times more).

Wheat yield grew 8.4% in 2017 – to 3.89 tons per hectare, sunflower seed – by 12.1% – to 2.22 t/ha, grapes – 18.2% – to 7.53 t/ha, potatoes – 3.02% – to 16.39 t/ha.

At the same time, due to the April snowfalls, the yield of stone fruit fell 8.8% – to 5.51% t/ha.

In animal husbandry sector growth was registered only in egg production – by 5% – to 478.8 million. With all this, the production of meat (poultry and beef) accounted for 145.5 thousand tons (-2.4%), milk – 370.5 thousand tons (-3.4%).

This is due to the lowering of the cattle by 6/3% – to 178.6 thousand head, pigs – 12.8% – to 434.4 thousand, sheep and goats – 2.5% – to 897.56 thousand.

Meanwhile, the poultry farming registered 9.1% growth and the population exceeded 5.03 million heads.