Moldova risks losing domestic sugar by 2027: producers demand explanations from the government

Sugar beet producers in the Republic of Moldova are sounding the alarm and demanding an emergency meeting by November 6 with Prime Minister Vasile Tofan, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Eugen Osmochescu, and representatives of relevant parliamentary committees. The main topics on the agenda include delays in promised subsidies for 2026 and discussions surrounding the VAT rate on sugar beets.

Farmers warn that the government's refusal to provide financial support could lead to the complete disappearance of domestic sugar production in the country by 2027. According to the Council of the Sugar Beet Producers Association (APSZM), previous appeals sent to the authorities have received no response whatsoever.

The first official appeal, dated September 29, concerned the announcement of the PD-02 contest titled "Comprehensive Income Support — Sugar Beet," giving authorities a 10-day window to reply. According to the association, even after 30 days, no response was provided. Furthermore, a joint appeal dated October 21—signed alongside the "Farmers' Force" association and the National Association of Oilseed Producers—also generated no reaction from the government, the Ministry of Agriculture, or parliament.

Industry representatives emphasize that they are not asking for preferential treatment, but merely for the fulfillment of commitments undertaken by the state toward farmers who cultivated sugar beets in 2025–2026. The association points out that the total amount in question is between 30 and 40 million lei.

"We issue a clear warning: if the promised payments are not made, the Republic of Moldova risks remaining without domestically produced sugar in 2027," the association stated, highlighting a severe upcoming crisis for the national agri-food sector.