Fruit Business Conference 2022 in figures

Ensuring predictability, guaranteeing the stimulation of the initiatives are aspects that will lead to the development of the horticulture sector of the Republic of Moldova and its technological consolidation on an international level. Starting from these needs and, implicitly, from reasons of rapid adaptation to current challenges, recently, the Association of Fruit Producers and Exporters “Moldova Fruct”, in partnership with the USAID Project, Rural Competitiveness and Resilience Activity in Moldova, organized the VIII-th edition of the National Conference “Fruit Business in the Republic of Moldova”.

The event is gaining popularity from year to year, gradually becoming an international event. This year, the conference was attended by over 220 fruit producers from all regions of Moldova, including the Transnistrian region, fruit exporters and importers, input suppliers, well-known experts from the country and abroad, as well as representatives of state institutions.

The purpose of this meeting was to provide viable solutions to the current challenges and improve the situation in the horticulture sector.

During the event, it was pointed out that, this year, the European Union facilitated the increase in exports of Moldovan agricultural products. Thus, more plums, apples and cherries reached the EU shelves without customs duties.

At the same time, it was found that last years, there is a decrease in the areas of aging orchards, which are replaced with the super-intensive orchards that ensure high harvests from reduced areas. Thus, the area of apple orchards decreased by 11.4%, now making up 45.3 thousand ha, of plum – by 15.3%, now making up 19.4 thousand ha, of peach – by 23.6%, now making up 4.9 thousand ha. At the same time, it is recorded an expansion of the areas of fruit orchards demanded in the export markets of Europe and the Middle East. Thus, the area of apricot orchards increased by 44%, now making up 4.9 thousand ha, of cherry by 19.4%, now making up 4.3 thousand ha, and the area of cherry orchards increased by 14.7%, reaching 3.9 thousand ha.

The last three years there can be noticed a decrease of exported apples. However, in 2021 apples were exported to 18 countries, but in 2022 they are exported to 30 countries. Moreover, in 2021, Moldova was ranked on the 10th place in the world, by the volume of exported apples.

The geography of plum exports in 2022 increases by one unit, maintaining at 24 countries. The position of Moldovan plums is consolidating in the countries of the European Union. Volumes exported to the EU decreased with just 13%, despite the fact that the global harvest fell with 53%, in comparison to 2021, because of drought.

In 2022, 14,342 tons of cherries were exported, that is 53% more than the previous year. Considering the increased potential of this product, developing the export opportunities of Moldovan cherries to EU countries is among the priorities in the near future.

In this context, Moldova Fruct claims that there are multiple opportunities on export markets for fruits produced in Moldova, but cooperation is needed to overcome the major problems faced by farmers.

Moldova Fruct will continue efforts to strengthen the Moldovan fruit sector aimed to increase the quality of Moldovan fruits, improve post-harvest infrastructure and diversify sales markets.