---
title: "Bumper harvests, fewer animals: Moldova's agriculture between growth and decline"
url: https://moldova1.md/p/89139/bumper-harvests-fewer-animals-moldova-s-agriculture-between-growth-and-decline
published: 2026-11-01T17:45:00Z
language: en
author: "Olga Mînzat"
section: "Economic"
source: moldova1.md
---

# Bumper harvests, fewer animals: Moldova's agriculture between growth and decline

> Agriculture in the Republic of Moldova grew by 11.5% in the first nine months of 2026, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. While commercial farms are increasing production, individual households are seeing declines in livestock numbers and milk output. The number of dairy cows kept by households fell by 10% in just one year, while the pig population on agricultural enterprises rose by 54.6%.

![](https://storage.moldova1.md/images/c08f66c4-ca19-4fcb-92b7-7eecd444e790.jpg)

Agriculture in the Republic of Moldova grew by 11.5% in the first nine months of 2026, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. While commercial farms are increasing production, individual households are seeing declines in livestock numbers and milk output. The number of dairy cows kept by households fell by 10% in just one year, while the pig population on agricultural enterprises rose by 54.6%.

According to statistical data, for the period from January to September 2026, total agricultural output increased by 11.5% compared to the same period last year, in comparable prices. This growth was driven by both the crop sector, which saw a 13% increase in output, and the livestock sector, which rose 7.5%. Within the crop sector, the best results were recorded for potatoes—with an average yield increase of 28%—followed by fruit (up 23%) and field-grown vegetables (up nearly 20%). Wheat productivity rose by 17%, reaching 4.79 tonnes per hectare.

![](https://storage.moldova1.md/images/7abf80d0-d5be-4ede-b953-384acb7b52aa.jpg)

According to expert Marin Gospodarenco, data from the National Bureau of Statistics indicates that agricultural output has increased by approximately 12% compared to the same period last year. He attributes this trend to favorable weather and more abundant harvests—marking the second consecutive year of strong results following the severe drought of 2024.

*"Compared to 2024, the yield per hectare of wheat has increased by 50%. While the situation is not positive everywhere—for instance, grape and sugar beet yields were lower than last year—a good harvest generally means more locally-sourced produce on the market, which helps ease price pressures on bread, vegetables, and fruit,"* noted Marin Gospodarenco.

However, a structural issue within rural agriculture lies beneath these figures. Small-scale household farms are gradually losing livestock, while animal production is becoming increasingly concentrated within larger agricultural enterprises. The expert highlights the dairy sector in particular: in just one year, approximately 5,000 cows have been lost from household farms, and milk production by small-scale farmers has fallen by nearly 8%. This is significant, given that household farms account for roughly 75% of the total milk produced in the Republic of Moldova. Although large agricultural enterprises are increasing their output, they have not managed to offset the losses from individual household farms. Consequently, national milk production is currently in decline compared to last year. "Farms are growing, but not quickly enough to bridge the gap; consequently, the Republic of Moldova is producing less milk overall than it did last year. This shortfall will increasingly be met through imports. Anyone with parents or grandparents in the countryside knows why: keeping a cow requires work from dawn till dusk, milk sells for a low price, and fewer and fewer people can still keep one. A good harvest is helping us this year, but if we want to continue having domestic milk and cheese ten years from now, rural areas need genuine support—not just timely rainfall—for small family farms and for cooperation," the expert added.

As of early October, the cattle population stood at 93,000 head—a 5% decrease from the previous year. The number of pigs rose by approximately 30% to 384,000, while the number of sheep and goats fell by 2%. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reports that agricultural enterprises saw an increase in livestock numbers—with the exception of poultry—whereas in individual household holdings, the number of animals declined across all species.