Source: Zerno.ru (Russia)
In the southern regions of Moldova, drought has damaged the corn crop by 70-100% and the sunflower crop by 60-80%, Interfax reports, citing the publication Rupor and the conclusions of scientists from the National Center for Research and Production of Varietal Seeds and the Institute of Soil Science, Agrochemistry and Soil Protection.
The main causes of the crop failures were drought in the soil and in the atmosphere, excessively high temperatures and low humidity, as well as night temperatures of over 25 degrees Celsius, said Moldovan Agriculture and Food Minister Vladimir Bolia.
The head of the Ministry of Agriculture called on affected farmers to submit documents confirming the damage caused by the natural disaster in order to receive aid.
The second decade of July in the Republic of Moldova was characterized by a constantly expanding and intensifying heat wave with temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius and a lack of rainfall. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry set up a working group, including scientists, to address the problems in the agricultural sector.
Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean declared his willingness to provide financial support to farmers.
On July 19, the Farmers’ Power Association called on the authorities to declare a national state of emergency in agriculture. Farmers are also calling for a moratorium on fines for overdue loans and the establishment of an emergency commission to help them cope with the effects of drought and heat and avoid bankruptcy.
The chairman of the Farmers’ Power association, Alexandru Bădăreu, emphasized that agricultural producers are suffering heavy losses due to the drought. In an official appeal to the President, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Agriculture and the Parliament, the farmers complain that the dry and hot weather of the last few days has severely affected the harvest. At the same time, the association pointed out that such a situation has already been observed in the last three summer seasons.
“The government must take urgent action to save this industry from disaster,” the association demanded, calling for the authorities to impose a moratorium on penalties for overdue loans to farmers from July 2024 to July 2025 and to set up a financial support program for those affected by the drought.