News about Agribusiness

The launch of cooperation projects aimed at harmonizing the national agricultural sector with the European Union requirements was discussed during a meeting between the head of the MAIA Agriculture and Food Ministry, Ludmila Catlabuga, and the Italian Ambassador to Moldova, Giuseppe Maria Perricon, and the director of the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (CIHEAM Bari), Biagio Di Terlizzi.

February 2026 showed that the Moldovan grain market does not freeze in the off-season, but works due to stable stocks and long-term contracts. At that time, more than 112 thousand tons (worth more than 431 million lei) were shipped. These are high indicators for a “quiet” month. March answered the main question: was February an exception or is it a trend? The answer is that it is a trend, and with high dynamics.

Spring frosts in Ukraine resulted in the loss of about 50% of the crop of early stone trees. For this reason, apricots and cherries may rise in price by 30-50%.

The government decided to partially compensate farmers for the excise duty on diesel fuel used in the period from March 1 to May 31, 2026. For this purpose, 110 million lei will be allocated from the reserve fund.

For some Moldovan farmers, the sowing campaign-2026 is just beginning. And for Moldovan sugar beet growers, it should have already ended. But the sowing of sugar beet has been delayed. Visions for its harvest and domestic sugar production are vague. The situation with sugar import is close to scandalous. But let’s talk about everything in order.

Milk producers in Ukraine are in a difficult situation due to rising prices for energy and other inputs, as well as “war challenges” and new EU requirements.

In the south of the Republic of Moldova, where water and agro-technologies make the difference between an ordinary fruit harvest and competitive products, Dimitri Caramalac has built step by step a family business for the production of quality table grapes. In 2025, thanks to investments in certification according to the GLOBALG.A.P. international standard, Caramalac Agro SRL intends to actively enter the European Union market.

In Ukraine, the northernmost almond plantation in Eastern Europe was established at the Institute of Horticulture of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences near Kiev.

A new model of land use is being introduced in Uzbekistan. It involves long-term leasing of agricultural land and the right of farmers to choose their own crops. Responsibility is only to the tax authorities.

Not even a week has passed since the meeting between the leadership of the Forța Fermierilor Grain and Oilseeds Producers Association and the President of the Republic of Moldova. The passions have not subsided – the emotional component of the dialog, if there was any, was initially in cold tones. And in the current socio-economic realities, any mass protests are just the “dish that is served cold”.

The Agency for Investments and Payments in Agriculture (AIPA) approved almost 78 million lei in subsidies for the last (shortened) working week.

In the first quarter of 2026, Ukraine’s agriculture became one of the most “sagging” sectors in terms of the number of new company registrations. During this period, 360 new businesses were registered in the industry – this is 24% less than in the past. This is reported by YC Market.

Moldova will implement a strategy to counteract climate disasters. The main goal is to minimize the economic damage, which has exceeded 23 billion lei in the last 15 years alone, and to create a modern system of warning the population about impending threats.

Last year, Moldova’s beekeeping industry set a record and an anti-record at the same time: honey exports reached an unprecedentedly high level, while honey production reached its lowest level in at least a decade and a half. This year, according to a moderately optimistic forecast, the industry will do without records – both positive and negative.

Concerns about fertilizer availability have increased uncertainty about global gross grain harvest projections for the 2026/27 season. For this reason, grain requirements may not be fully met in some parts of the Southern Hemisphere. At the same time, prospects for a recovery in grain trade are weak. These are the main findings of a fresh report by the International Grains Council (IGC).

Next Wednesday, April 29, the government will consider a draft decision on the allocation of 110 million lei from the Reserve Fund to compensate the excise tax on diesel fuel used by farmers during the spring field works this year.

Moldova introduces new rules for labeling food products: now merchants are obliged to indicate the country of origin of goods. The corresponding amendments to the Law on Internal Trade were adopted by the Parliament this week.

At the end of the 2025/26 marketing year, Ukraine will increase transitional grain residues from 4 million tons to almost 13 million tons. The reason is the incomplete realization of export potential due to the introduction of restrictive quotas in the EU and increased competition in the markets of Africa and Asia.

At a wholesale price of 200 lei/kg, the first batch of Moldovan strawberries, grown in a heated industrial greenhouse in Soroca district, was sold at the Moldovan wholesale market in the middle of the week.

To date, the MAIA Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry has not yet announced the start of the next stage of accepting applications for subsidies under agricultural risk insurance contracts concluded in the fall and winter period. While waiting for this announcement, some insurance companies are being “restrained” in the agricultural segment – they insure only livestock farms and perennial crop plantations of their regular customers.