OREANDA-NEWS. August 23, 2012. The damage caused by the drought of 2012 is valued at 1-1,5 bln. leis, - the Academy of Sciences of Moldova. To compared, the damage resulted from the drought of 2007 amounted to 7,5 bln. leis. According to the research carried out by experts of ASM in partnership with experts of the Institute of Economy, Finance and Statistics, this year the drought affected about 15-20% of the crop expected.

Losses in the agricultural sector could have been even bigger if there had been no rains in the middle of August. However, the bulk of crops, first, maize, sunflower, sugar beet, vegetables failed to recover, and as a result, about one third of them was lost. Researchers point out that despite all strategies developed to avoid various consequences of climate changes worldwide, there is no general document which would touch upon environmental risks and stipulate all priorities in Moldova. Researchers remark unstable agricultural production and a decline of yield capacity for principal crops.

Here landowners are exposed to the biggest risks. A insurance system in agriculture is not able to compensate all fallouts of natural disasters. An unstable situation in the agricultural sector triggers migration of the rural population. To combat against droughts scientists advice: To recover irrigations systems, enlarge agricultural areas backed by the state, increase subsidies, render assistance to public agriculture research institutes, improve equipment of the branch, broaden a range of agricultural reforms, modernize laws regulating this sector, provide institutional support to the agricultural risk management.

According to the researches, since the 50-ties of the last century the global warming has resulted in a higher number of climate change risks, which increased 5.5 times, with a number of other natural disasters increased 2.4 times. A number of natural disasters have doubled by the mid of the 90-ties. The drought o 2012 led to losses in the agriculture of Moldova and other states.

First of all, major exporters of grains suffered, namely the USA, Russia and Ukraine. This adversely affected a value of crops. For example, a value of the winter wheat increased 35-40% from USD 250 to USD 350 per t. in July, 2012 at main American exchange stocks.