September 23 2003, 11:42 INFOTAG

Moldova increased import of wheat seeds in September

A top official in Moldova's agriculture ministry said that the companies, which had permission for grain imports to the country, had so far been mostly importing wheat seeds, INFOTAG news agency informed. According to the official, since the start of September the companies have imported more than 3,680 tonnes of top quality seeds from Russia and Kazakhstan versus 1,100 tonnes, exported in the whole August. The country will need 80,000 tonnes of seeds to plant 400,000 hectares with winter wheat.

"A tonne of wheat seeds costs $300", the official said.

He said the large-scale import of food and feed wheat would be started later. Since the start of September the country has imported 1,850 tonnes of milling wheat and 183 tonnes of food wheat. Since the start of the year there have been imported, accordingly 15,600 tonnes of food and 8,900 tonnes of feed wheat.

There are 30 companies which have permissions for import of grain to the country in 2003. They are exempt from payment of VAT for imports of 300,000 tonnes of milling, 120,000 tonnes of feed wheat and 80,000 tonnes of wheat seeds.