Moldovan government to help farmers affected by drought

Moldova’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vladimir Bola has presented the first aid package to domestic farmers affected by the drought and natural disaster, Infotag reports.

Farmers will be exempt from fines for overdue loans if they submit a document confirming their inability to fulfill their contractual obligations.

In addition, farmers will be able to apply for a six-month loan repayment holiday for interim payments due from September 2 to December 31 of this year.

The Ministry also proposes to reduce the down payment for participation in the small irrigation system development program from 40% to 20%. This measure is aimed at simplifying access to irrigation equipment necessary for sustainable agricultural development.

Alexander Slusar, former executive director of the leading Moldovan agricultural association “Farmers’ Power,” called the ministry’s announcement “manipulative.” He stated that the six-month loan repayment holidays only apply to payments for the purchase of equipment from the Agency for Development and Modernization of Agriculture (ADMA).

Tags: subsidies, drought, Moldova