Moldova’s harvest progresses slowly as crop yields improve

Moldova’s harvest of early grain and oilseed crops is progressing more slowly than usual and is expected to continue for at least another two to three weeks. At the same time, yields of major crops are improving as harvesting moves from the southern to the northern regions of the country.

According to Moldova’s Ministry of Agriculture, rapeseed yields range from 2.8–3.0 tons/ha in the south to more than 3.0 tons/ha in the central and northern regions. Barley yields increase from 4.5–4.6 tons/ha in the south to 5.2–5.8 tons/ha in the north, while wheat yields rise from 4.6–4.7 tons/ha to 5.7–5.8 tons/ha, respectively.

Harvesting of rapeseed and barley is nearly complete in southern and central Moldova, while the wheat harvest is still in its early stages. In the north, only barley has largely been harvested, with many farms starting rapeseed and wheat harvesting only last week.

Nationwide, wheat has been harvested from less than 20–25% of the country’s approximately 340 thsd ha of planted area, meaning most of the new crop is still awaiting harvest.

The pace of the harvest could slow further due to unstable diesel fuel supplies for farmers and the possibility of rainfall in late July and early August, creating additional challenges for the ongoing campaign.

Tags: harvesting, Moldova