Like other south European countries, Moldova has seen extraordinarily high temperatures this summer. And between September 2006 and July 20, rainfall was 50-75% of the norm, with the last three months seeing just 6-50% of the average expected, which according to forecasters is catastrophic.
Weather experts say the country's water system is on the brink of crisis and even rain expected in late July is unlikely to improve the situation. They also are not ruling out that the drought could return next year, citing usual two-year cycles.
The low rainfall and abnormally high temperatures in a country heavily dependent on agriculture are jeopardizing grain supplies in Moldova, where only 400,000 metric tons of grain has been harvested this year, far less than the planned 750,000 tons, the Moldovan president's press service said.
"Our main goal is to prevent price increases of popular sorts of bread. Those in charge of grain supplies will have to forget the words 'income' and 'profit' for some time," President Vladimir Voronin said at emergency talks.
Grain importers have been promised privileges, and the president called for new technologies to be introduced to improve the country's fertilizing and irrigation system.
In line with the government's strategy, Moldova's irrigated land will expand from the current 46,000 hectares to 600,000 by 2025.
