CHISINAU, Nov 7. Moldovan farmers intend to withdraw to protest on November 21 due to the fact that they risk losing their lands due to debts bought by transnational companies, the head of the Farmers' Power Association, Alexander Slusari, said on Tuesday.
Farmers met with Prime Minister Dorin Recan and representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture on Tuesday to discuss the accumulated problems.
«Farmers will protest on November 21. We cannot talk about development in a year or two; now we are talking about saving farmers in a month or two. Otherwise, the territories will go to two or three transnational companies» , — Slusar told reporters.
He noted that the conversation with government representatives was too general, the farmers did not hear specific promises to help.
“The meeting place has not yet been determined, we will announce the details later. Most want to come to the protest directly in Chisinau, but we will discuss this collectively,” Slusari clarified.
In June, Moldovan farmers took part in protests to draw the attention of the authorities to their problems. They advocated a reduction in VAT on grains, demanded restrictions on grain imports from Ukraine, and wanted access to European funds for the agricultural sector and an increase in the national agricultural development fund. Farmers also insisted on providing them with compensation. Negotiations with the authorities resumed in September. Now the main demand of farmers is related to the possibility of suspending the accrual of penalties for late payments on loans.