Agriculture 2025: crop output up, orchards hit by extreme weather
Moldovan agriculture is at a crossroads, balancing between stability and resilience. The year 2025 presented a mix of outcomes: while there were noticeable increases in crop production and record exports, severe losses in fruit cultivation occurred due to frosts and extreme weather events. In this context, 2026 is set to be a pivotal year, where the direction of agricultural policies and the ability to adapt to climate change will be critically important.
The volume of agricultural production increased by more than 10% in the first nine months of the year, primarily driven by a 22% rise in vegetable production.
Economic expert Iurie Rija stated, “In the wheat sector, we have over 1.3 million tons. Barley has been the surprise of the season, with more than 300,000 tons exported. We have also exported over 286,000 tons of rapeseed from the Republic of Moldova. Additionally, 271,000 tons of sunflowers were exported from our country.”
However, fruit production faced challenges, as over 8,600 hectares of orchards were affected, leading to significant declines in harvests.
Eugenia Bivol, a fruit grower, shared, “This year has been difficult for our farm due to frost, which affected our orchards. We didn’t have much fruit and were left with expenses.”
Ludmila Rotaru, another fruit grower, mentioned, “It was a challenging year for perennial plantations. The frost in the spring of 2025, affected our apricot trees. However, we are satisfied with the plum harvest.”
Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, Ludmila Catlabuga, emphasized, “We are currently developing a project aimed at preventing and mitigating risks in agriculture. This concept will be directly consulted with farmers to ensure it is beneficial for both parties.”
Although 2025 was a difficult year for Moldovan agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture assures that farmers were not left to face challenges alone. While the support provided did not completely cover land losses, it was an essential intervention during an agricultural year characterized by extreme conditions.
You can learn more about Moldovan agriculture on the show "Land and People," which is broadcast on public television every Sunday, starting at 2:00 PM.
