February 15, 2012

Moldova's 2012 milling wheat output will decline

The production volumes of Moldova's milling wheat are seen to reach the level of nearly 240,000 tonnes, a decline of 100,000 tonnes, or 30% compared with 2011 results, said Vasiliy Bumakov, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry of Moldova.

According to him, wheat production volumes will reduce due to adverse weather conditions. In particular, the condition of winter crops sowings became affected by the drought in Moldova in 2011, the lack of adequate supply of soil moisture, and extreme frosts in the winter.

The Minister said that in order to meet all needs of the domestic market the country requires 340,000 tonnes of milling wheat, but despite the decline in the harvest volumes, the food security of the country in the current year will be completely covered. V.Bumakov reminded that the state reserves of Moldova stocks nearly 50,000 tonnes of milling wheat, and by the end of February 2012 the country plans to purchase another 10,000 tonnes of wheat.

He also noted that Moldova monthly imports 2,000-3,000 tonnes of flour. The Minister of Agriculture added that taking into account the good harvest of wheat in 2011, the country has large carry-over stocks of grains in storehouses of agrarians, most of which do not hurry to sell grains and wait for better prices.

Bumakov noted that, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, the harvest of wheat in 2010 totalled 770,000 tonnes, in 2011 - 833,000 tonnes, including 40% of milling wheat, and 60% - feed wheat.