The drought will persist until the middle of October, director of the State Hydrometeorology Service Ilie Boian said in a news conference, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. “There was a significant shortage of rain in Moldova over August-September. The precipitation on 90% of the country’s territory in the period totaled 20-55 mm, which is 25-60% of the norm. On 10% of the territory, the precipitation was only 10-20% of the norm. By the amount of precipitation, 2011 is similar to 1952, 1953, 1982 and 1990,” said Ilie Boian. During August 1 – September 20, the hydrothermal coefficient that characterizes the humidity level of the territory was 0.1-0.5 on average. This represents severe and extremely severe drought. “But the high thermal regime and the insufficiency of precipitation affected the main crops insignificantly as the weather conditions during their germination were favorable. Problems are encountered in harvesting the sugar beet and sowing grains. The rape hasn’t been sowed this year,” said the director of the State Hydrometeorology Service. Minister of the Environment Gheorghe Salaru said the low amount of precipitation led to a reduction in the flow capacity of the Nistru and Prut Rivers. “There is a danger of fires, but measures are being taken to prevent them,” stated the minister. Mihail Suvac, of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, suggested several solutions for improving the situation of the soil. He recommended the farmers not to sow until the land is not sufficiently wet and to increase the quantity of seeds used to sow – from 4.5 million to 5.5 million per hectare. Mihail Suvac also said that the country’s food security will not be affected by drought as the sugar beet yield will meet the needs, while the land will be ready for cultivation after the rain expected in October.