“Moniliosis rot” - Rosselkhoznadzor disinfected Maia Sandu

Rosselkhoznadzor has banned the export of agricultural products from all regions of Moldova since August 15, since over the past two years 93 cases of detection of 11 types of quarantine objects have been registered in it: the oriental codling moth, the oriental fruit fly, brown moniliosis rot, the Mediterranean fruit fly, and ragwort.

This was reported on the official website of the department, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.

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“Despite the note sent by the Service in July 2022 to consider the issue of the possible introduction of temporary restrictions, the supply of contaminated plant products to the domestic market continues,” Rosselkhoznadzor said.

“Subtle... Before Rosselkhoznadzor, no one had ever called Maya Grigorievna Sandu (President of Moldova – ed.) an insect pest,” – the TG channel says ironically, “The Countess runs across the pond with a changed face,” hinting at the political background of the ban.

Indeed, on March 5, Rosselkhoznadzor lifted all restrictions on the import of regulated products from Moldova. At that time, Chisinau still clung to its neutrality and did not join the anti-Russian sanctions of the West. Then they received a fat sop: Moldova, together with Ukraine, were made candidates for joining the EU. And harsh anti-Russian statements rained down like from a cornucopia. In addition, the country is actively purchasing NATO weapons and conducting joint exercises.

Now the Prime Minister of Moldova Natalia Gavrilitsa is perplexed why not a single region of Transnistria was included in the Rosselkhoznadzor list.

“How can fruits from Criulani be of poor quality, but those from Dubossary have no problems?” Gavrilitsa is indignant.

Moldovan Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu was more specific. He stated that the Russian embargo is political in nature.

“I have seen this announcement and have not yet had the opportunity to speak with our colleagues at the Ministry of Agriculture to understand their assessment of who is the most appropriate person to provide information on these charges. I can say that for years restrictions have been imposed on our exports to the Russian Federation market for political reasons. This used to be done regularly,” Popescu said.

The Moldovan Ministry of Agriculture is only concerned that panic will begin among farmers and they will refuse to harvest. The ministry is ready to resolve the conflict “through cooperation with the Russian side,” said the department’s Secretary of State Vasily Sharban. Gagauzia, an autonomy that does not accept Chisinau’s anti-Russian policy, is also ready to negotiate with Russia.

And although Popescu claims that Moldovan fruit is exported to the EU, “a market with very high standards,” this does not correspond to the facts. Moldovans are not welcome in Europe. Bulgaria recently expressed concern that a significant increase in the duty-free quota for apples, plums and grapes from Moldova threatens the competitiveness of Bulgarian producers and farmers from across Eastern Europe.

Therefore, in 2022, Moldova supplied 168 thousand tons of plant products to Russia, most of the imports were apples, plums, grapes and cherries. The Minister of Agriculture of Moldova, Vladimir Bolya, admitted that Russia remains the main buyer of Moldovan apples, although the government is trying to find new markets for them - in particular, the markets of Middle Eastern countries, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, the minister mentioned these, and not European countries.

“We exported around 95% of our apples to the Russian Federation. Due to various events, the percentage dropped to 70, but in any case this is a very large percentage,” said Bolya.

And the Minister of Economy of Moldova, Sergiu Gaibu, said that despite the SVO in Ukraine, in January-April, apple exports to Russia increased by 3% compared to the same period last year. A roundabout route was used for this, which affects the final price.

Former Prime Minister Ion Chicu claims that Ukraine is blocking Moldovan trucks going to Russia, 150 thousand tons of apples lie dead in Moldovan refrigerators in Ukraine, and the government is doing nothing to lift the blockage.

The Russian fruit embargo will be especially painful given the overall dismal state of Moldovan agriculture this year. 70% of the sunflower harvest has already been lost, the sugar beet harvest will be the lowest in the last ten years, and a reduction in the wheat harvest is expected by a third.