FARMERS’ FORCE ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES CONTINUOUS ACTION OF PROTEST FROM JUNE 7 TO 30

The Farmers’ Force Association announced a continuous action of protest in central Chisinau from June 7 to 30, reads the Association’s notification submitted to the Chisinau Primaria [city government] on Friday.

According to the document signed by the FFA Executive Director Alexandru Slusari, about 1,000 people and about 300 units of agricultural machinery will take part in the protesting. The vehicles will be parked at the Great National Assembly Square.

The farmers intend to protest against the Government's attitude towards them and ignoring the problems they face. Previously, the Association called on the Government to provide support in the face of rising fuel prices, demanded repayment of subsidy arrears, and also asked for state support in connection with large grain imports from Ukraine.

In particular, they demanded that Moldova, following the example of Eastern European countries, ban grain imports from Ukraine, as this leads to a fall in prices for the products of Moldovan farmers. Farmers also sought to oblige the port of Giurgiulesti to accept and ship only Moldovan agricultural products.

The Association complained about the Ministry of Finance, which did not approve the draft of governmental Resolution on increasing compensations for agricultural producers. The organization has threatened mass protests if the draft is not accepted soon. On May 25, Association representatives were invited to a meeting with the Minister of Finance, but it did not take place: the farmers left the meeting room, outraged that Minister Veronica Sireteanu had delegated her Deputy Minister to the meeting, though she promised to discuss the farmers' issues personally.