Prime Minister Vasile Tofan met with members of the National Federation of Farmers at the government headquarters on September 15 to identify concrete measures to simplify their work and provide greater predictability for the agricultural sector.
The meeting also addressed several pressing issues, including access to financing, debt restructuring and reducing the administrative burden on farmers.
Farmers highlighted the need for longer-term loans and expanded financing mechanisms tailored to the specific needs of agriculture. The discussions also covered debt restructuring, enforcement against guarantors, the application of a moratorium on enforcement proceedings and bailiffs’ fees.
“We need to find a balance that keeps banks interested in lending to agriculture while giving farmers the tools they need to finance their operations and protect themselves during more difficult periods. We need sustainable solutions that work both for farmers and for the financial system,” the prime minister said.
The meeting also focused on measures to simplify farmers’ activities, including applying the “once-only” reporting principle and streamlining mechanisms for employing day laborers. Tofan reiterated the government’s support for deregulation measures aimed at eliminating unnecessary procedures and facilitating economic activity.
Regarding concerns raised by farmers about field inspections, Vasile Tofan said he would ask government institutions to ensure that inspections are justified and do not create unnecessary obstacles for agricultural producers.
The discussions also covered the reimbursement of excise duties on diesel fuel used in agriculture, a measure supported by the government, as well as mechanisms for subsidizing the agricultural sector.
Issues raised by farmers that require legislative amendments or inter-institutional solutions will be examined in joint meetings with the relevant authorities. Dialogue with farmers will continue to ensure that the proposals discussed are translated into concrete measures to support and simplify agricultural activities.
Farmers have recently threatened to bring their agricultural machinery onto the streets if the proposed 50% increase in the VAT rate on cereals and oilseeds is not removed from the draft budgetary and fiscal policy before the second-reading vote.