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The paper goal was to analyze the technical endowment in terms of machinery in Romania's agriculture in the period 2007-2015 and to identify the main trends and problems which affect performance and competitiveness. In the analyzed period, the park of tractors and machinery increased as follows: tractors by 14.5%, ploughs by 13.9%, cultivators by 11.3%, seeders by 14.6%, combines for cereals by 11.4 and for fodder by 17%, machines for potatoes harvesting by 43.5%, presses for hay and straw by 121.7%, only windrowers and sprayers and dusters declined by 1.2%, respectively, by 2.6%. Despite this slight increase, the structure of agricultural machinery is still an uncorresponding one for keeping pace with new technologies. The utilized agricultural area (UAA) increased and as a result the UAA per tractor declined from 44.5 ha to 41.3, which is also a good aspect. Despite that agricultural production increase, its performance is not supported by mechanization mainly in the small sized holdings. The replacement of the existing old machinery with a high usage degree, whose repairs are costing, is obviously needed and requires substantial financial resources. the continuous growth of farm inputs price and the low price at farm gate for agricultural products do not assure farmers enough income to modernize mechanization. The Romanian Government should allocate a higher percentage from budget to agriculture for improving the park of tractors and agricultural machinery. Also, the financial aid per ha coming from the EU should be equitably divided among member states. Farmers need a better endowment in their farms to apply modern technologies and increase production, quality of agricultural products, economic efficiency and competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper was carried out radiography of the rice market in Romania, during 2007-2015. Romanian culinary tradition has a strong impact on the evolution of the rice market in our country. Rice is an important food for about 50% of the planet's population and its consumption has beneficial effects on the health of the population. In order to highlight the evolution of the rice market in Romania and the changes that have taken place on this market, a series of relevant indicators have been used, such as: rice areas cultivated at national and macro-regional level; Total rice production at national and macro-regional level; Average rice production at national and macroregional level; Rice prices; Consumption of rice at national level; Imports and exports of rice. During the analyzed period there was a positive evolution of this market because, on the one hand, we are witnessing an increase of rice surfaces and production, and on the other hand, we have identified changes in the consumption behavior of rice. Consumers in our country are aware of the rice-specific nutritional properties and have begun to use a range of varieties of this product. Rice consumption in Romania is about 4 kg rice / year /per capita. The statistical data used in the paper was provided by the National Institute of Statistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]