Farmers in the Republic of Moldova have started sowing the country’s first legal industrial hemp crops since regulations were approved last year.
Moldova is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. With an area of 33,483 km2 and an estimated population of 2.42 million, Moldova’s sunny climate and fertile soils have supported a thriving agricultural industry and the country is one of the world’s largest wine producers.
Moldova is also known for its production of cereals, sunflower seeds, and fruits. But perhaps in the not-too-distant future industrial hemp will also have a significant role in the country’s agricultural sector, bringing much-needed economic benefit to what is one of Europe’s poorest countries.
Moldova recently issued the first authorization for hemp fiber and seed cultivation, granted by the Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices via the Standing Committee on Drug Control. One of the first farmers to give hemp a whirl is Ion Sahanovschi from the village of Bălăbănești in Moldovia’s Criuleni district, who has started with a modest 8 hectares, out of the total of 700 hectares he manages.
“It’s a start. If we want to know what potential it has, we have to try,” said Mr. Sahanovschi (translated).
“The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry encourages farmers to capitalize on the new legal framework and contribute to the development of alternative agricultural branches, which can bring added value to the rural economy and create new value chains,” said a statement from the Ministry (translated).
Farmers wishing to grow hemp for seed, fiber or oil are required to submit an application to the Standing Committee on Drug Control and need to keep a register of harvesting and marketing activities. Only varieties registered in the Plant Variety Catalog of the Republic of Moldova, the Common Catalog of Varieties of Agricultural Plant Species of the European Union or the national catalogs of EU member countries are permitted.
“It is a very good opportunity for the business environment of the Republic of Moldova, for farmers, as well as for those who produce components from industrial hemp,” said Moldovian Prime Minister Dorin Recean late last year.
In other news from the region, over the border in Ukraine that country’s first industrial hemp processing plant recently commenced commercial operations. Situated in the Zhytomyr region, the project was originally announced in early 2023 – and getting it up and running was no mean feat given the ongoing Russian invasion. It’s expected to ultimately have a processing capacity of 14,000 tons of biomass a year, supplied by local farmers.
Farmers in the Republic of Moldova have started sowing the country’s first legal industrial hemp crops since regulations were approved. Read More
