The campaign included both rallies and protest motorcades—featuring tractors. Both were conducted with restraint, without blocking roads or causing incidents. The protesters limited themselves to expressing their disagreement with fiscal policy and the Moldovan authorities’ rudimentary support for the agri-food sector.
“Farmers took to the streets, and their message was that we are still alive. We want to be respected. We want to be active. We want a different model of agriculture. This is our message to the government,” Agroexpert quotes Alexander Slusar, director of the “Forța Fermierilor” association, as saying.
MP Sergei Ivanov was also present at the farmers’ protest and expressed his solidarity with their demands. “The authorities should have responded much earlier—these demands have been under discussion for two months now. Despite the fact that they were made public, it was only yesterday that the government began consultations on certain legislative initiatives, including the introduction of a 20% VAT on agricultural products, which is unacceptable. The PSPA strategy was adopted without taking into account the demands of grain sector farmers. I will support the protest as long as it remains apolitical and feasible and necessary demands are put forward,” noted Sergei Ivanov.
The leader of the “Forța Fermierilor” association believes that initiatives that run counter to farmers’ interests are “not analyzed sufficiently.”
For its part, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAIA) previously stated that it respects farmers’ right to protest and supports dialogue with representatives of the agricultural sector.
The leadership of “Forța Fermierilor” announced that a meeting of the association’s council will be held next week to analyze the situation and decide on further steps. For their part, the farmers who took part in the protest announced their determination to “continue if the authorities do not listen to them.”
