Moldovan farmers threaten protests over possible lifting of restrictions on Ukrainian grain

Moldovan farmers plan to hold protests on October 29–30 unless the country’s parliament extends the licensing mechanism for imports of grain and oilseeds from Ukraine. Farmers fear that lifting the restrictions will increase Ukrainian supplies and drive down domestic market prices.

According to the association, farmers in several districts of Moldova have already identified the locations and times of the planned protests, which are expected to involve agricultural machinery. The discontent stems from the parliament’s failure to decide on extending the licensing requirement for Ukrainian grain imports, which expires on October 31, 2026.

The association said that even a brief gap in the restrictions could cause significant damage to local grain and oilseed producers. Moldovan farmers argue that difficulties exporting through the Black Sea have forced Ukrainian producers to sell grain below production costs, potentially intensifying competition and putting downward pressure on procurement prices in Moldova.

On October 22, three Moldovan agricultural associations warned the authorities of possible protests unless measures to support agricultural producers were adopted by October 30. In addition to extending the licensing requirement for imports from Ukraine, farmers are calling for a review of the excise tax policy on diesel fuel and the introduction of direct financial payments to agricultural producers.

On August 26, Moldova’s government supported the temporary licensing of grain and oilseed imports from Ukraine through October 31, 2026. The current mechanism does not provide for an automatic extension of the restrictions, meaning a new parliamentary decision is required to keep them in place.

Tags: export, grain, wheat, imports, Moldova, restrictions, Ukraine