Farmers in southern Moldova who lost crops to drought will receive government compensation
Farmers in southern Moldova face the greatest hardships, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry reviews options for additional support. Minister Ludmila Catlabuga said on the Moldova 1 TV programme “Bună Dimineața” that the climate situation and the losses recorded in the region justify the farmers’ concerns, and authorities work on stronger mechanisms to help them handle drought and other extreme events.
“The climate situation gives us trouble” and the pressure in the field demands suitable measures, Ludmila Catlabuga said.
She noted that the south of the country shows the most severe impact, with losses far greater than in other regions, a fact she confirmed after visiting the area.
The minister said authorities compiled all data on the damages farmers in the south reported, and the Government is preparing a decision to support them.
“We collected all records of damages in the south. Five localities remain the most affected and we have a draft Government decision. We will see how the process unfolds and how the Government approves further support”, Catlabuga said on public television.
She added that farmers stay involved in consultations, even in the context of the protest on 10 December. “The Ministry never missed discussions with farmers”.
Catlabuga said MAIA now develops a new tool for climate risk management, planned for implementation in 2026. The tool will give farmers stronger ways to handle drought and other extreme events.
“For 2026, the priority is a risk management tool that will be drafted and submitted for consultations,” the minister said.
Another priority is the modernization of irrigation systems, a key element for agriculture to adapt to climate change.
“We made major progress on irrigation systems, infrastructure, and access to water”, Catlabuga said, adding that access to water sources has become essential for agricultural development.
The official also said that 2025 set a record for subsidies, with the support fund exceeding 1.9 billion lei, while farmer investments reached more than 7 billion lei. She noted that subsidies still form part of producers’ business plans, but the goal is to turn them into a supplementary tool rather than a yearly necessity.
“Farmers now need to place subsidies as a component of a business plan. We hope that in a few years subsidies will no longer be mandatory but will help launch start ups”, Catlabuga said.
Regarding farmers’ demands at the latest protest, including the repeal of the Law on Agricultural Chambers, the minister stressed that farmers’ involvement in policy development remains a priority and consultations will continue.
Farmers in southern Moldova whose land and crops suffered from drought held a protest on 10 December in front of the Government, citing a catastrophic situation in agriculture.
On the Moldova 1 TV programme “În Context”, MP Sergiu Stefanco said farmers face a lack of financing tools, delays in subsidy payments, and the absence of a functional moratorium on forced executions.
He said the total diesel excise exceeds two billion lei, with about 1.5 billion paid by farmers, while the Subsidy Fund stands at 1.9 billion.
Stefanco said that to overcome the crisis in agriculture, the Subsidy Fund needs to reach 3.5 billion lei.
