Agriculture remains a key pillar of Moldova’s economy, accounting for approximately 45% of the country’s total exports. Despite challenges faced by the agricultural sector, such as recent droughts, it continues to play a crucial role in the nation’s economic development.
During the program “Economic Analysis with Veaceslav Ionita,” held on November 29, 2024, the economic policy expert from IDIS “Viitorul” highlighted that, despite a decline in the agricultural workforce, productivity has significantly increased over the past decades.
“Although there are now four times fewer people employed in agriculture compared to 40 years ago, production has doubled since the Soviet period,” Ionita stated. In the first nine months of 2024, five out of the ten main export sectors were agricultural, including cereals, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and alcoholic beverages, contributing substantially to total exports. Agriculture has also supported market and product diversification, especially after 2015, following the shift in export directions caused by Russia’s trade embargo.
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Over the past five years, approximately 40% of Moldova’s exports have been agricultural products. Cereals and seeds accounted for 39.6%, followed by fruits and vegetables (16.5%) and alcoholic beverages (16.1%). Ionita pointed out that fruit exports experienced notable growth, reaching around $292.7 million in 2024 compared to just $55.6 million in 1994.
Despite a reduced agricultural workforce, the production of fruits, nuts, and berries has remained stable and even increased. Rising demand for berries and the diversification of exports, including grapes and plums, have strengthened Moldova’s agricultural presence in international markets.
However, the expert emphasized that the lack of an efficient irrigation system in Moldova remains one of the biggest challenges for national agriculture. Although the amount of water used for irrigation has drastically decreased over recent decades, the growing frequency of droughts has made this issue a top priority for both authorities and farmers.
Agriculture has played—and continues to play—an essential role in maintaining economic stability by providing jobs and a strong export sector. Despite ongoing challenges, it remains the foundation of Moldova’s economy, with significant potential for future growth and development.