The strawberry season in Moldova is nearing its end, with a significantly reduced harvest reported by farmers. The volume of strawberry production has been decreasing annually by 5-15% since 2023, stated Dmitrii Dodica, a berry marketing consultant, for IPN.
The frequent rains in the second half of May have significantly reduced the quality and volume of the harvest, therefore, Dodica explains, significant losses have been recorded, especially in areas where there are no weather protection systems.
Specialists have signaled multiple challenges for this year's strawberry season: unfavorable weather conditions, lack of seasonal staff, and limited access to water for irrigation.
Farmer Andrei Barbanov from Cojușna reported a drastic decrease in production – just 7 tons per hectare, compared to 15 tons harvested last year. Barbanov points out that the first bloom was compromised by unstable weather, and protective measures, such as the use of fires and special substances, did not save the majority of the plants. The total production sold on the domestic market by the farmer from Cojușna amounted to 20-24 tons, without the possibility of exporting strawberries abroad, as happened in previous years.
Read more at IPN