OREANDA-NEWS. August 14, 2014. The government measures to support the agricultural sector were announced after the Tuesday meeting with the producers of vegetables and fruits and representatives of the canning factories. The sides discussed measures that may be taken in connection with introduction of the Russia's ban on imports of Moldovan fruit and vegetables from 21 July 2014.

The head of the government announced that the Cabinet will hold a number of measures to support agricultural producers of the country. In particular, within the framework of the action "Our fruits - the most delicious", since August 16, in all areas of the country it is planned to organize the fair. At the same time, on the Great national Assembly square in Chisinau on August 27-31 will be installed a tent in which the producers can sell their goods. Within another action of the government "Apple for each passenger" AIR Moldova will serve passengers with apples, grapes and plums, purchased from the local producers.

Iurie Leanca also said that the government has already bought apples for 20 million lei, which from September 1 will come to kindergartens, schools and units of the National army within the framework of the action "Apple for your health. Moreover, on August 30 action "The drawn, which brings together" will be held. "Together with the colleagues from the government I will take part in cooking pies with apples, in honor of which the action is called. We invite everyone to try it, and I think it will be the biggest drawn with apples in the history of Moldova", - said the Prime Minister. Also Iurie Leanca announced that the government has developed a package of measures to support the agricultural sector.

Thus, it is planned to create a mechanism to provide compensation to farmers who have suffered losses due to the reduction of prices for the early fruits. The Prime Minister said that on 13 August at the meeting of the government will be decided the amount of remuneration and the way of their issuance. At the same time, the government is negotiating with the external partners - the World Bank, the European investment Bank, the government of Poland - about the orientation of their programs to support agriculture on investment in infrastructure for storage of vegetables and fruits. Iurie Leanca noted the fact that the National Bank of Moldova amended its Regulation on loan classification, allowing commercial banks to restructure loans to farmers and to reduce the financial pressure on them.

In addition there will be adopted a number of amendments to the Tax code, according to which before November 30 will be reduced the tax burden on farmers affected by the Russian embargo. The Prime Minister also stressed that the government provides assistance to all farmers wishing to take advantage of new trading opportunities provided by the deep and comprehensive free trade area with the EU, within the framework of which more than 80 thousand tons of apples and plums can be exported duty free. Several new shopping areas in the Middle East were also found.

The Prime Minister gave assurances that the government streamlines and cheapen the procedure of certification by the National Agency for food safety of plant products intended for export. Recently, Iurie Leanca held a number of meetings with producers of fruit and vegetables and representatives of the processing industry with the goal of solving problems and helping farmers affected by the Russian sanctions.