Agro Chirnogi prefers rape to wheat

Agro Chirnogi, based in Calarasi, which cultivates one of the biggest farming areas in the country, has decided to increase its rape-cultivated area, sacrificing some of its wheat and barley crops, in order to maximise profits. “We have decided to reduce the amount of wheat and barley we cultivate, given that the market is cheap, as these cereals have a very low purchasing price. We are relying on a bigger rape crop instead. Rape has seen rising demand for exports to Germany, as well as for bio-diesel production since 2005,” said Gheorghe Ghioca, general manager of Agro Chirnogi. Moreover, Ghioca says rape is preferred in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as in the food industry, because of its lower cholesterol content than the sunflower oil. Agro Chirnogi estimates a turnover of up to 10 million euros (35.20 million RON) this year, almost a 25% increase against last year.