OREANDA-NEWS. December 20, 2011. These preliminary figures were voiced by Minister of Agriculture Vasile Bumacov at the meeting of the ministry board where results of the agricultural 2011 year were considered. The minister has emphasized that the year was good and export grew by 25,7% to USD 875 mln. as compared with 2010.

The plant foods in the total volume of export made 55% (+5,5.p.p.); processed products made up 18,8% (+0,4 p.p.), beverages, drinks and vinegars – 17,2% (-5 p.p.), tobacco and food industry wastes – 4,8% (-0,8 p.p.), foods of animal origin – 4,1% (+0,9 p.p.). Foreign trade volume reached USD 1 bln. 522,9 mln., which is 24,9% more against indicators of 2010. Imports made up USD 647 mln. (+23,9%), and trade surplus was USD 227 mln. (+31%).

“ We have started manufacturing more products and they have become qualitative. There has been growth in the potential of cultivating new markets and rise in wheat, table grapes and sunflowers production.

The summer draught has affected the sugar beet harvest which made 661 thou. tones (-21%), but this is enough amount for domestic consumers”, Vasile Bumacov says. Priorities for 2012-2015 are reconstruction and modernization of grapes and wine-making sector, improvement of the subsidiary system, development of the market infrastructure, substitution of import, development of sustainable agriculture, milk and meat sector and reorganization of educational and scientific systems.