Moldova's Farmland Crisis: Unused Fields and a New Land Code
Due to migration and a declining interest in agriculture, hundreds of hectares of farmland lie uncultivated across the country.
This situation is most common in the central and southern regions, according to the latest agricultural census conducted in 2011.
The village of Ciorești in Nisporeni district exemplifies this challenge. With over 1,800 hectares of farmland, approximately 600 hectares have been abandoned and remain uncultivated for years. Weeds and other invasive plants proliferate on these neglected lands, eventually spreading to the cultivated areas, says Nina Guțu, a land management specialist in the village.
"Farmers cultivating the land come and complain that acacia trees from neighbouring plots are encroaching," Guțu explains. "Wind-borne insects, butterflies, and weed seeds also reach the tended fields."
Valeriu Guțu, the mayor of Ciorești village, acknowledges that this situation is common in most Moldovan villages. Following the land reform program that distributed plots to citizens, only a portion of the population continued pursuing agriculture. Others sought different opportunities. Those who considered selling their land were deterred by high transaction costs, resulting in the abandonment of these plots. The mayor adds that migration and the lack of a proper market for fruits and vegetables are further contributing factors to this concerning trend.
"Those who still work the land are engaged in subsistence farming only," Guțu says. "Since the land distribution, many owners have passed away, and their heirs are unwilling to pay the significant fees to become the new proprietors. They simply abandon the land. Additionally, migration is a factor. People leave and lose interest in these plots. Even if we were to take control of these lands, what would we do with them? We lack the specialists to manage them, and the scattered plots across the village make it difficult to determine their best use."
The 2011 agricultural census revealed that Moldova has nearly 250,000 hectares of uncultivated land, concentrated primarily in the central and southern regions. Data collected over 13 years ago indicates that thousands of hectares of farmland in Cahul, Hîncești, Căușeni, and Călărași districts lie fallow.
In response to this challenge, a new Land Code was adopted late last year. The code stipulates that local authorities can take control of abandoned land and lease it to economic agents if it remains uncultivated for two consecutive years. The code mandates that landowners are notified first. If no response is received within three months, the land ownership will be transferred to the local administration.
Author: Svetlana Bogatu
Translation by Iurie Tataru
