The awards were allocated in ten categories: “economic excellence”, “employer of the year”, “taxpayer of the year”, “female leader in agriculture”, “young entrepreneur”, “innovation in agriculture”, “courage and resilience in agriculture”, “excellence in district agricultural activities”, “best in agricultural journalism”, and “mechanic of the year”.
“With this celebration we are able to honor only a small part of your labor,” MAIA head Ludmila Katlabuga assured the farmers. – This is a gesture of respect, a sign that we see your efforts and appreciate the sacrifice, patience and resilience of each of you. It is important to speak about it in public. As we look to the future, we are clear about what we have to do. We need more irrigated land, more processing infrastructure in the villages. We need fair agricultural policies, support for youth, women, small farms, equity, stable markets and less bureaucracy. But these priorities mean nothing without farmer unity. I call you to solidarity, don’t let it be destroyed”.
“The last sheaf” officially invited “perpetrators of the celebration” knitted in the famous wine cellars of Cricova. In previous years, celebrations on the occasion of the Day of the Agricultural Worker were held in the Palace of the Republic. The change of location was perceived by the leaders of some non-governmental organizations of agricultural producers as a “downgrading of status in favor of coziness”.
By the way, the fact that farmers’ associations did not receive an official invitation to this central event of the agricultural year did not go unnoticed. Many of their leaders agreed that this was a deliberate gesture – in response to the uncoordinated with the authorities creation of the Council of Agrifood Associations by sixteen non-governmental organizations of agricultural producers and processors.
Nevertheless, this did not prevent the leadership of the MAIA Ministry of Agriculture and Food from inviting farmers’ associations to a public consultation earlier this week on the activities of the Chambers of Agriculture – the ministry’s future partners in professional dialog. Many associations found it possible to accept this invitation.
