In Moldova, approximately 250,000 hectares of the total of 2 million hectares of farmland are not cultivated. Over 115,000 ha of these are situated in the center of the country, while over 81,000 ha are located in southern Moldova. A part of the owners of these lots died. To solve the problem, the authorities designed a new Land Code by which to enable the mayor’s offices to manage the abandoned areas and to lease them out to business entities if these haven’t been cultivated for two consecutive years, IPN reports, quoting RFE/RL’s Moldovan Service.
In Sofia village of Hâncești district, about 130 ha or each fifth ha of the total area of farmland fall into decay. Most of these were earlier vineyards and orchards. Mayor Ion Mîrza explained to RFE/RL’s Moldovan Service that the villagers stopped cultivating the land because they didn’t have where to sell their grapes and fruit, especially after the prices fell.
“Many of those who cared for those orchards and vineyards died, while their children, potential heirs, went abroad and the land remained uncultivated. Those lots were cultivated for a period, but it later became unprofitable for those who worked them,” stated the mayor.
The farmers who own land nearby complain that the weeds invade their fields and affect their crops. “If these lots are leased out to business entities, the latter will have to cover particular costs, to pay rent and to invest in tree felling, which is very expensive,” said the mayor.
Ion Mîrza believes the procedure should be rethought. “90% of the abandoned lands belonged to persons who died, but no inheritance documents were made or no sale and purchase transactions were performed and it is not clear who we should contact. The Government should think up well the law and should propose it for public debates so that everyone knows what they should wait for, either they are heirs or owners. Those lots should be transferred under the management of the mayor’s office without contacting the owners so as to lease them out,” explained the mayor.
The acting director of the Balti Research Institute for Field Crops “Selecţia” Boris Boinchan told the Service that a lot of pests appear on abandoned fields and they cause damage to crops. Also, the vegetation waste can catch fire on dog days.
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