CHISINAU, August 5 (Itar-Tass) - Moldova has reported a record high grain harvest of over 1 million tons over the past ten years, Agriculture Minister Vasily Bumakov told a news conference on Monday.
“This volume will be enough to fill in the state grain reserves and even to export around 160 tons,” he said adding that good weather helped good harvest - over 3 tons per hectare.
Bumakov expressed concerns over the formation of grain prices that judging by the previous experience may go down almost by 50%. “The government will not interfere into this process, but we will inform grain producers about recommended prices to prevent them from unfair dealers. The ministry will also do its utmost to avoid monopolization of grain exports by large companies.”
Last year Moldova’s farmers collected two times less grain 550,000 tons over heavy drought. Moldova’s southern regions reported their harvest of 1.5 tons per hectare, while the price of milling wheat reached 4,000-4,200 lei per ton (around $320).
Experts forecast that this year taking into account the situation on the global market the milling wheat price will reduce to 2,400-2,600 lei per ton (around $192).