---
title: "Farmers in Orhei invest in dryers for sunflower crops due to good harvest, low prices"
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/85430/farmers-in-orhei-invest-in-dryers-for-sunflower-crops-due-to-good-harvest-low-prices
published: 2026-09-19T18:11:00Z
language: en
author: "Cornelia Cornea"
section: "Social"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# Farmers in Orhei invest in dryers for sunflower crops due to good harvest, low prices

> The sunflower harvest promises to be good this year, yet the situation remains difficult for farmers. Prices lower than last year, drought, and high production costs are cutting into their profits. Experts estimate a yield of 18–20 quintals per hectare. In Ciocâlteni, Orhei District, the Digori family is trying to cope with these challenges through technology and investment.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/410bf111-a904-43be-8854-dd8a923b40d8.jpg)

The sunflower harvest promises to be good this year, yet the situation remains difficult for farmers. Prices lower than last year, drought, and high production costs are cutting into their profits. Experts estimate a yield of 18–20 quintals per hectare. In Ciocâlteni, Orhei District, the Digori family is trying to cope with these challenges through technology and investment.

Spiridon Digori started harvesting, but he notes that prices are lower than last year’s and his storage facilities are already full.

"Last year, the yield was lower—down by about two or three hundred kilograms per hectare—but the price was better. Back then, we started selling at 9.80 lei. This year, the price started between 9.00 and 9.20 lei. Today, it is still 9.20 lei. You can't keep sunflowers in storage when you aren't equipped to handle that volume. The wheat hasn't been sold yet; although payment was made, it hasn't been picked up due to issues at the port. However, we’ve found other buyers; we’re looking around and managing," said farmer Spiridon Digori.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/8cf524c4-26c4-48a0-8a2c-232bfac4c419.jpg)

To retain soil moisture, the farm employs "mini-till" technology, and harvesting is timed strictly according to seed moisture levels to minimize drying costs.

"We use disc harrows, level the land, and sow without deep plowing. If you level the ground without deep plowing, moisture is preserved. We have a moisture-measuring device. We harvest when the moisture level is right; if you miss it, you face losses, and if you harvest too early, the crop is wet and you struggle to bring it to optimal dryness," explained Spiridon Digori.

To limit losses during rainy years, the cooperative invested in storage and drying facilities: approximately 2.7 million lei for the warehouse and 70,000 euros for the dryer. In both instances, 40 percent of the costs were subsidized through AIPA.

"We experience drought in the summer, but rain often falls in the autumn during harvest time. The crop gets wet, yet you have to harvest it to avoid losing it. One year, we harvested corn in the autumn; moisture levels were high, and no grain elevator would accept the crop for drying because natural gas prices were extremely high. That’s when we were forced to buy our own dryer. Once the crop is ready, you put it in storage and dry it right here, thereby saving the harvest," the farmer added.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/c8549800-07a0-4f27-8aab-cfd9479a6357.jpg)

Over the course of 22 years, the farm has expanded its land area from 400 to 900 hectares and invested in high-performance machinery that enables rapid operations and compensates for labor shortages.

"We strive to practice high-performance agriculture, achieve good results, move forward, and work here at home, in our own country. It isn't easy, but we keep going. High-performance machinery means precision, speed, and ease of use—these are the top priorities today," said machine operator Liviu Digori.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, the sunflower harvest is currently in full swing. The average yield is estimated at 1.9 tonnes per hectare, with a total harvest of approximately 762,000 tonnes from  ​​390,000 hectares.