The agricultural sector is a strategic one for the Republic of Moldova both from economic viewpoint and from the viewpoint of the social impact because a large number of people work in this sector, Prime Minister Pavel Filip said in a festive event staged by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry on the occasion of the Farmer’s Day, IPN reports.

According to the Premier, this year the Government managed to increase the agriculture subsidization fund and to implement a number of projects to finance agriculture and to also enable the farmers to directly import diesel fuel for field works.

Pavel Filip said that following the approval of the new program by the International Monetary Fund, Moldova will get US$110 million by the end of the budgetary year. A part of this money will go to develop the economy, including aeroculture. The program does not oblige to reduce agricultural subsidies and to increase the retirement age, as it is speculated in society.

Radu Mudreac, head of the parliamentary commission for agriculture and food industry, said everyone realizes the importance of the agricultural sector for the national economy and the necessity of optimizing it so as develop the economy and reduce poverty in rural areas. “The development level of the national economy and, consequently, the welfare of this people depend directly on the state of affairs in agriculture, which is justly considered the backbone of the national economy,” he stated.

Minister of Agriculture Eduard Grama congratulated all the agricultural workers, saying 2016 was not at all easy because they faced frost, hail and drought. “However, we managed to achieve good results this year. The Government made considerable effort and we tried to help the farmers by providing subsidies and by repaying the debts accumulated during many years,” said the minister, calling on the young people to remain in the country and to work in agriculture so as to develop this sector and contribute to economic growth.