November 7, 2024

Romania's agricultural sector hit by severe yield declines amid drought and rainfall

Romania's agriculture sector faces considerable challenges this year, with the European Commission further reducing crop yield forecasts due to a combination of severe drought and heavy rains affecting key production regions.

Grain corn yields are projected to fall to 3 tonnes per hectare, marking a 10% decline from last month's forecast and a notable 36% drop compared to last year. This figure represents a 38% decrease against the five-year average.

The reduction places Romania's corn production among the lowest in the European Union, with only Bulgaria expecting a more significant drop. Bulgarian yields are anticipated to average 2.84 tonnes per hectare, putting it just below Romania's forecasted output.

The substantial yield reductions stem from extreme summer heat and prolonged drought, which placed immense strain on crops in Romania's southern and eastern farming areas. Wet conditions further disrupted harvesting efforts, while flooding likely exacerbated crop losses. The delayed sowing of winter crops in the eastern and northern regions adds to concerns, with rapeseed particularly affected due to dry soils persisting until mid-September.

The impact extends to other crops as well. Soybean yields are forecasted to average 1.71 tonnes per hectare, a 7% drop from the September forecast, 20% lower than last year, and 22% below the five-year average.

In mid-October, Agriculture Minister Florin Barbu reported that Romania had harvested 3.5 million tonnes of corn from half of the planted area and approximately 1.3 million tonnes of sunflowers. In 2023, Romania's harvest totalled 8.5 million tonnes of corn, underscoring the extent of this year's production challenges.

-      Romania-Insider