Moldova Farmers Halt Protest, Seek Meeting with Parliament Speaker
Moldovan farmers protesting government inaction on drought and hailstorm losses have paused their actions after securing a promise of a meeting with Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu.
The three-day protest involved blocking the Leușeni border crossing with agricultural machinery.
Seeking Solutions:
Farmers met with Cahul district head Pavel Groza and government representative Igor Șevcenco on February 10th. "We expressed our demands," said farmer Adrian Istrati. "They confirmed a meeting with Speaker Grosu for a few farmers next Tuesday." The protest will remain suspended until then, with further action dependent on the meeting's outcome.
Government Offers Aid:
In a separate move, the government approved 50 million lei (around $2.5 million) in subsidies for farmers affected by last year's weather events. Agriculture Minister Vladimir Bolea stated, "Cahul district, among the most impacted areas, will benefit from this assistance." The aid will be distributed as direct payments per affected hectare.
Next Steps:
Farmers can now apply for assistance at the Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture's territorial subdivisions. The meeting with Speaker Grosu could potentially lead to further solutions for their grievances.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
