Horticulturists of Moldova request authorities to raise financial support of this agriculture sector due to damages from Russian embargo.

 

Iurie Fala, Director of fruit producers and exporters association Moldova Fruct, said at the Monday press conference at Infotag that the financial assistance worth 138 million lei, allocated by the Government, does not cover all the costs.

 

“This year, harvest of apples is 15% richer than in 2013. 110 thousand tons of apples have already been sent for processing, whereas the Government decided to pay compensations only for 60 thousand tons. Method of paying compensations is also flawed, because money will be paid only to those, who were the first to provide apples for processing”, said he.

 

According to him, many fruit growers found themselves in a situation when they have no funds to continue work next year.

 

“Farmers, burdened with loans and debts, will not succeed without the government help”, said Fala.

 

Director of the Agro-product from Briceni Vlad Gamureac said that farmers desperately need the Russian market.

 

“We need a transit period to find new markets. If today somebody said that we can sell in the EU, this does not mean that it is true. There is nothing like this. Nobody is selling to the EU. The state also gives us nothing”, outraged he.

 

Farmers ask that for all the sold fruits from 2014 harvest, the Government to pay compensations worth 1.2 lei for plums at selling price of 3.2 lei, while for apples – 1.5 lei at selling price of not less than 3.5 lei/kg.

 

Fruit producers ask for raising of the 2014 subsidy fund by at least 150 million lei.