OREANDA-NEWS. May 06, 2013. This was stated by the President of the Republican Union of Associations of Growers UniAgroProtect at the press conference on Monday. This spring, after sowing wheat and maize growers were going to receive additional funds to overcome fallouts of the drought of 2012.

The funds were allotted by the World Bank, which approved the extra loan of USD10 million to back the agricultural sector of Moldova in March, 2013. For the loan to become available, the government has to sign the relevant agreement. However, the resigned ministers have no such authorities. Associations of Growers sent requests to the President as counted that he could sign the agreement might, Alexandru Slusari said.

“But it has turned out to be impossible. It means that, if a new capable Cabinet is not accepted, the risk is rather high for us to loose the loan of the World Bank and for growers to be deprived of the support they are in sore need for. Their poor condition may become even worse and in this case I see clashes conceivable” Alexandru Slusari noted. According to him, the question has been already raised in the World Bank to revoke the loan offer. As Alexandru Slusari told, the USD 10 million include MDL 90 million to back maize growing and MDL 30 million are to be allotted to support wheat plantations.

On March, 19, 2013 the Bank approved the loan of USD10 million with the 25 -year maturity and 5-year grace period to back the agricultural sector of Moldova. The loan aims to mitigate aftershocks of the drought of 2012, help to restore maize and wheat growing and avert livestock reduction in most vulnerable districts.

The severe drought of 2012 was reported to have impaired the agriculture of Moldova at a sum of MDL 2.5 billion approximately. In 2012, the crop amounted to 560 thousand tons, 20% down as compared with the target, the Ministry of Agriculture reported.