Moldova orchard pruning: Farmers face labor shortage
Farmers get no rest even in winter, as they must prepare their orchards if they are looking for a bountiful harvest. In the Soroca district, orchard pruning is underway. Although this year's mild winter hasn't harmed the orchards, the apple and plum trees still require special care, according to farmers.
A major challenge they face is the shortage of workers. The village of Șeptelici has 130 hectares of orchards. Pruning the fruit trees is a priority for farmers right now, but there's a lack of qualified specialists locally. Farmers are forced to bring in workers from neighboring villages. Before they start, the team receives training.
"We're pruning the orchards," one worker explains. "We're cutting off the dead branches to ensure a good harvest next year. I learned this trade at the vocational school in Ocnița, which is now closed. It's very sad. This job requires people who know something about trees, how to prune them."
"We've been pruning orchards for over five years," another worker says. "We prune about 30% of the tree to ensure a good harvest."
"By pruning the trees and removing some branches, we can improve the quality of the fruit. The size of the plums, apples, and cherries will also increase," explains Vladimir Ivanov, a local farmer. "We currently export to Romania and other European countries. We've invested in our orchards, refrigeration, and irrigation systems, and we hope to extend our markets to other countries so we can generate income for the villagers and the country."
The Soroca district has the largest orchards in the country, covering over 7,000 hectares. Fruit tree pruning takes place in January and February, depending on the weather, farmers say.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
