Farmers from several districts of the country set off with agricultural equipment to Chisinau
Farmers have again gone out to protest. Farmers from several districts of the country set off with agricultural equipment to Chisinau. Today, they will park their equipment at the entrances to the capital, where four places have been authorised. These are the South Railway Station, Chisinau International Airport, the entrance to the commune of Stăuceni and the entrance to the Buiucani sector.
Farmers say they are unhappy about rising fuel prices and the almost threefold increase in interest rates on loans. Farmers are also demanding higher compensation for crops damaged by drought and a ban on grain imports from Ukraine.
On 7 June, farmers met with Prime Minister Dorin Recean and Agriculture Minister Vasile Bolea, but the parties failed to reach a compromise. However, the authorities say they are open to further dialogue with farmers to find solutions to their demands.
At this hour, farmers are already out with tractors on several national roads. Also today they are due to meet with the Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, Vladimir Bolea, to seek solutions to the crisis they are facing, the representative of the Farmers' Force Association, Alexandr Slusari, told Radio Moldova. According to him, hundreds of farmers are taking part in the protest.
Thus, several farmers, with farming techniques, from Falesti, Cahul, Cantemir, Leova, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Causeni, Stefan Voda, Ungheni, Straseni, Criuleni, Anenii Noi, Orhei, Telenesti and Rezina districts want to protest today in Chisinau. At this hour, they are on the national roads leading to the capital, the representative of the Farmers' Force Association, Alexandr Slusari, told Radio Moldova.
The protest could last several days. In the afternoon, the tractors are expected to arrive at several authorised sites in Chisinau municipality. Alexandr Slusari also said that a new round of negotiations will take place today at 11:00 with the Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, Vladimir Bolea, who will discuss the situation of our farmers with European officials in Brussels tomorrow.
"The agricultural technique is gathering from different localities, farmers have started to Chisinau. This week I think we will be in the capital. Minister Vladimir Bolea has invited us today at 11:00 am for talks. He will show us the calculations with which he will leave for Brussels. Not all farmers can come to the talks with Mr Bolea because the farmers have left with their tractors for Chisinau, I will go to the talks", Alexandr Slusari said.
Alexandr Slusari also pointed out that farmers are asking for compensation for production costs of at least three thousand lei per hectare for the first group of agricultural crops (wheat, barley, rapeseed and others) to be allocated no later than 1 August.
They are also calling for a temporary restriction, by Commission decision, on the use of the aid for the production of wheat, maize and other cereals.
