Extreme weather threatens Moldova’s global cherry exports
Severe frost, torrential rain, and devastating hail have struck the Republic of Moldova, compromising up to 100% of the cherry harvest in several key agricultural regions. The extreme weather events, which peaked on May 22 and May 30, have triggered an immediate crisis in the country's high-value pomiculture sector.
The heavy rainfall on May 22 severely hit the districts of Călărași, Strășeni, Ungheni, and Criuleni, while a powerful hailstorm battered northern Moldova on May 30, causing catastrophic damage in Glinjeni (Fălești) and Pârlița (Ungheni). Cherry prices in the country currently range from €3.06 to €5.10 (approx. 60–100 MDL) per kilogram.
Grigore Baltag, head of the Directorate for Plant Products at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAIA), confirmed the scale of the damage during a live broadcast on Moldova 1.
“Frosts have also affected the cherry crop. The commissions are to evaluate the losses.”
The crisis extends beyond orchards, impacting arable crops, rapeseed, sunflower fields, and corn. While officials note that the recent rainfall helps replenish soil moisture after three consecutive years of severe drought, it is actively destroying ripening fruit.
"These systems are expensive. Part of the cost is offset by government subsidies. Without protection, we risk losing our crops every year," Baltag added, urging farmers to invest in frost and hail protection.
Andrian Bostan, a fruit grower from northern Moldova, explained on the same program that early-ripening cherries are almost entirely lost, leaving farmers to hope for the late-season varieties.
“If the rains continue as they have recently, the entire harvest will be affected. Last year we faced spring frosts and lost a large portion of our cherry crop,” Bostan said.
The systemic vulnerability of the sector is exacerbated by a severe shortage of state defense infrastructure. Vasile Aghenie, deputy director of the Anti-Hail Service, recently revealed to Moldova 1 that anti-hail stations across the country currently hold only 1,278 operational rockets, despite requiring a minimum of 6,000 to ensure adequate protection.
This climate shock places significant economic pressure on the Eastern European nation. With over 5,400 hectares of plantations, Moldova currently ranks as the world's seventh-largest exporter of cherries.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
