OREANDA-NEWS. August 22, 2011. It was said by the agriculture and food industry minister Vasilii Bumacov, noting that 50% of soils in the country are currently in the unsatisfactory state and 10% - in the critical one. The minister said the government had adopted the Program of preserving and increased soils’ fertility for 2011-2020 and the Plan of actions to realize it in the next three years in order to stop the land degradation process and to raise soils’ fertility.

The document stipulates that Moldova will commit 54 mln leis (USD 4.7 mln) to measures for preserving and raising soils’ fertility in the next here years. The program aims to modernize the existing land usage system, implementation of modern technologies and agricultural practices favorable for environment. Particularly, it provides for creation of the automated informational system of the state of soils’ quality based on scientific research, stopping soil corrosion, raising soils’ fertility.

According to data of the Moldovan agriculture ministry, 40% of the country’s agricultural lands are currently damaged by ablation, 220,000 hectares – deprived of humus horizon and saline soils, 25,000 hectares are subject to landslides and 50,000 hectares have already become unfit. Vasilii Bumacov stressed that Moldova’s soils had been used for many years but no protecting measures had been taken and no technologies that would help stop soil erosion had been used.

It is planned to implement measures to protect Moldova’s biggest natural wealth. Experts believe this program will help minimize or even stop the main forms of soil degradation and create preconditions for raising soils’ fertility.