On Friday, Alexander Slusari, executive director of “Forța Fermierilor,” met with Prime Minister Vasile Tofan. The organization’s representative reiterated the position that “any discussion of farmers’ issues must include the farmers themselves.”
The discussion with the prime minister focused primarily on the situation in the grain and oilseed markets in a regional context, the blockade of ports in Ukraine, harvest forecasts in Moldova, the sharp drop in wheat and rapeseed prices in recent weeks, and the decision regarding the transit of products from Ukraine to Moldova.
The association’s executive director conveyed the farmers’ protest, noting that “they were not consulted at all on the issue of transit.” Meanwhile, Moldovan farmers had a negative experience during the 2022/23 season, when poorly organized transit of products from the neighboring country via rail and road blocked the export of domestic produce. At the same time, the absence of import restrictions led to the import of grains and oilseeds from Ukraine at dumping prices, which forced Moldovan farmers to sell their produce well below cost for a long time. Moreover, there was a real risk that Romania would introduce import licensing for grains and oilseeds from Moldova—the same regime currently applied to Ukraine.
A representative of “Forța Fermierilor” insisted at the meeting that farmers and exporters be involved in the process of organizing the transit of Ukrainian products. “We need comprehensive information on transit plans regarding Moldova’s infrastructure and the needs of domestic producers and exporters for the next four to five months. We cannot allow our exports to be jeopardized by logistical or customs bottlenecks. At the same time, we have repeatedly requested the introduction of a licensing system for imports of grains and oilseeds from Ukraine, based on the existing Romanian model and the model that was applied in Moldova during 2023–2025, and which practically saved the situation in the fall of 2023,” the organization’s statement reads.
Following the dialogue with the association’s representative, the prime minister promised that in the coming days (by Friday, August 21), a meeting on the transit issue would be organized with the participation of senior officials from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, the Moldovan Railways company, and producers and exporters of grains and oilseeds. At that time, the government will also announce its position on the licensing of imports of Ukrainian grain and oilseeds into Moldova.
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