Tiraspol, 25 April. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. In connection with the persistent dissemination in private media outlets and social networks of rumours about a food crisis in the country, the government's press service has released some statistics provided by the Ministry of Economic Development (MED) and the State Customs Committee (SCC).
«According to the Ministry of Economic Development, food imports rose by 3.3% in the 1st quarter of 2016 as compared to 2015. According to the SCC, in January-March 2015 the country imported food products and raw materials at $20,159,587 against $20,824,318 in the 1st quarter of 2016. This category of goods accounts for 6% in the import commodity pattern in 2015, and 10% in 2016," reads the statement.
As for the general trend of food imports from the start of the year to the present moment, the SCC has reported a slight drop in imports in comparison with the same period of 2015. According to the SCC, this drop is due to the fact that the major partner has decreased the volume of food product imports. Other economic agents, on the contrary, have increased the volume of imports by 15%. These are generally small- and medium-sized businesses.
The SCC also notes the increased import of a number of food products in comparison with the same period of 2015. This includes frozen herring, potato, cabbage, onion, beet-root, beans, tinned products, sausages, sunflower oil.
Owing to import substitution processes, this year has seen a slight decline in supplies of eggs, butter and flour-and-cereals products.
«MED and SCC experts are unison in opinions that the country is unlikely to face a product crisis, and there are no objective grounds in aggravating food security issues. Statistics show there are no prerequisites in the country for an acute food crisis," reads the government's statement.
