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Romania has the largest number of farmers across the EU
European Commissioner for Agriculture and
Rural Development, Phil Hogan, responding to the invitation extended by Minister Petre Daea, said during a visit to Romania at the end of September this year: "Romania has the largest number of farmers across the European Union. We have many small farms here that need our attention. But although there are 3 million farmers in Romania, less than one million request subsidies from
the Commission. Others think that they are too small to ask for loans. We have to work on this to ensure that more and more of the small farms get involved not only in producing food for themselves, but in producing food for the Romanians and in contributing to maintaining the vitality and living conditions at a good level in rural areas. (...) I noticed an agriculture willing to promote quality products, an interest in mentioning the geographical area
for many products. I see a very constructive approach by the farmers’ organisations and
the relevant ministry to achieve good results in budget negotiation and the reform for the future. In principle, Romanian authorities agree with the direction proposed by the common agricultural policy and I am glad.”
Romania – European leader in grain crops
According to Eurostat, Romania achieved a record production of 14.5 million
tons of maize in 2017, a
crop that makes us the
largest maize producer in the European Union.
“Last year, Romania’s grain crop was nearly
27 million tons, with
more than 1.4 tons per capita, and we have nine historical records”, said Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Petre Daea at the activity report conference.
“It is for the first time that we see such figures. If we calculate, it means that we exceeded 1.4 tons per capita. We have 9 historical records, for the following crops: wheat, rapeseed, peas, barley, sunflower, soy, maize, potatoes and grapes. (...) We have achieved important productions for the country, productions obtained mainly by farmers in favourable climatic conditions, with few exceptions, but also supported
by subsidies through state efforts. Before receiving the money from the EU, someone has to make it available and that someone is the national budget”, said Petre Daea.
“It is an exceptional thing and we must preserve it as such and obviously together with the farmers and the research sector we have to think about how to increase such yields, so that they do not remain just a peak in a comparison, but become a constant in the Romanian agriculture with a view to economic stability, progress and permanent gains for farmers”, said Daea.
In Romania, grain crops occupy 60% of the country’s area.
For this year the Agriculture Minister estimates again maize and sunflower crops that could
put Romania on the first place in the European Union. The Agriculture Minister relies on the fact that Romania has the largest crop area for such cereals in the EU.
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PHOTO: AGERPRES