Center for Strategic Studies and Reforms

Wheat Market Research - 2003 (March 2004)

Abstract

Due to severe climate conditions in 2003 Moldova faced a wheat crisis. Crop production failed, and wheat yield was only 102 thousand tons as compared to 1181 and 1113 thousand tons in 2001 and 2002 correspondingly. For the first time in the last five decades a need for large-scale import of wheat and flour emerged. The situation though was aggravated by a swift rise in the prices of bread, wheat, and flour on regional and world markets, which finally affected Moldova’s poorest population by the sharp growth of prices for bread (by 39.8%) and flour (as much as 2.5 times).  

In the paper there is assessed the situation of the country’s wheat market in 2003 as regards both quantity indicators (production, consumption, export/import, prices) and quality of the state regulation measures, competitive environment, territorial aspects of the “bread issue” and the impact of the bread price increase on the poor. Recommendations include proposals to improve the legislation and mechanisms regulating the wheat market, to form a state reserve fund and an intervention wheat fund, to improve the system of wheat procurements and storage, and social support for the vulnerable groups of the population. 

This paper is based on the Wheat Market Research carried out by the Center for Strategic Studies and Reforms (CISR). The initiative of this study belongs to the EC – Food Security Programme (EC FSP – Moldova). The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors (CISR’s members and consultants) and should not be attributed in any manner to the EC FSP – Moldova or the Government of the Republic of Moldova.