Agriculture in Moldova

To sustain growth in agri-food exports and expand into high-value markets, diversification is crucial. Strengthening trade ties with the EU is anticipated to bolster this diversification effort. Currently, Moldova engages in agricultural trade with over 70 countries, with the EU and Eurasian Countries being predominant partners, together accounting for 82% of Moldova’s foreign trade. As of 2022, exports to the EU amounted to USD 2.5 billion, while imports were valued at USD 4.4 billion.

The nation is renowned for a broad spectrum of agricultural goods, ranging from staple crops like wheat, barley, and maize to a rich variety of fruits, vegetables, and livestock products. In the last year, the livestock sector alone has witnessed a 35% production increase.

Prominent vegetables cultivated include tomatoes, onions, and a selection of gourds and greens. The fruit sector is predominantly comprised of apples, plums, sweet and sour cherries, apricots and peaches, complemented by nuts and grapes cultivated for various uses.

The synergy between agriculture and processing industries forms a significant segment of Moldova's national economy, establishing the country as a key supplier of agricultural products to neighbouring markets. This sector is bolstered by a tradition of diligent agriculture, complemented by an increasing trend of private investments.

Agriculture plays a crucial role in Moldova’s food security, fulfilling the majority of the country's food requirements and diminishing reliance on external sources. Additionally, the sector furnishes other industries with essential raw materials.

In 2022, Moldova's export profile to EU countries featured a substantial segment of animal and vegetable oils, fats, and waxes, constituting 11.3% of total exports. This was followed by significant exports in the categories of food and live animals, and machinery and transport equipment. Imports from the EU presented a diverse  composition, with the majority constituted by manufactured goods and chemicals, alongside significant percentages of food and live animals, machinery, and fuels.

Moldova's diverse agronomic output encompasses a range of commodities from horticulture to grains and livestock, with a notable output value of 2,100 million USD in 2022. The preponderance of plant cultivation, particularly cereals and industrial crops, underscores the sector's strategy of ensuring high-yield production.

There's a marked shift from fodder crops to more profitable alternatives, a transition that supports both economic viability and land conservation. Strategies for sustainable diversification include the introduction of varied crop varieties, fostering a balanced crop rotation that mitigates soil depletion.

The Republic of Moldova offers a wide range of agricultural product groups, including fruits, vegetables, grains, and livestock. In 2022 agriculture output reached 2,100 million USD.

Plant growing has a dominant position in the structure of agricultural production; its share in the total agricultural production is about two-thirds. Cereals and industrial crops occupy about 90% of the area. Production of fodder crops on arable lands has decreased, which leads to the disruption of crop rotation patterns, deterioration of livestock forage, increasing the pressure on the lands to a level that leads to their degradation. Production increases can be realized in future by further diversification of crop varieties, which as a result will also allow for optimized crop rotation patterns.