Economic

Vladimir Bolea supports industrial hemp as drought solution

Farmers in the Republic of Moldova may soon have the opportunity to cultivate industrial hemp.

This announcement was made by Vladimir Bolea, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry. The Minister is confident that all necessary procedures will be completed within this year, allowing the project to be officially approved. Concurrently, farmers have indicated that this could serve as an alternative to crops adversely affected by drought.

In recent years, drought has severely impacted many crops in the southern part of the country. Consequently, farmers recognize the need to find alternatives to corn, sunflower, or cereal crops, according to Ion Rață, President of the Hemp Growers Association. He suggests that industrial hemp, which is more resistant to high temperatures, might provide a viable solution and potentially offer higher income for farmers.

"I advocate for this crop because it is resistant to drought. Additionally, it has significant added value. As many of you may know, industrial hemp offers a way to mitigate this issue. On one hectare of industrialised hemp, it is possible to earn up to 4-5 thousand euros. In other words, it is a crop of the future—one that is relatively new," says Ion Rață.

Simultaneously, Vladimir Bolea, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, stated in an interview on Rlive TV that the ministry supports the cultivation of industrial hemp as an alternative for farmers. He also mentioned that a draft law has been developed for this purpose, although it has not yet been approved for various reasons.

"We sent a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture to Romania, which included members of the Anti-Drug Police from the Republic of Moldova and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. We visited the Anti-Drug Police in Bucharest, where officers clearly stated that industrial hemp should be treated like corn, wheat, and other agricultural crops, without any risk. This is because we all understand that temptation can always be a concern. For this reason, the areas must be declared so that police can conduct inspections. I firmly believe that we will fully resolve this issue within the year," declared Vladimir Bolea.

Industrial hemp is listed in the European Union’s Catalogue of Agricultural Plant Varieties and is cultivated for industrial and horticultural purposes, including the extraction of fibers, biomass, and oils, as well as for the production of food and pharmaceutical products. The main suppliers of industrial hemp in the EU are France, the Netherlands, and Austria.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

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