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The paper analyzed the dynamics of the cultivated area and production in oilseeds crops, especially on sunflower, rape and soybean, in Romania in the decade 2010-2019 in order to identify the main trends and changes, using trend line models and to set up the forecast for 2020-2014 horizon, based on the results of 2019 and the average annual growth in the analyzed period. In 2019, Romania cultivated 1.8 million ha with oilseeds crops, of which 71.3% sunflower, 19.6% rape and 8.8% soybean, and produced 4,792 thousand tons seeds, of which 74.4% from sunflower, 16.6% from rape and 8.6% from soybean. The areas and output increased in case of sunflower and soybean, while rape registered a decline. For the year 2024, it is expected as Romania will cultivate 2,015 thousand ha with oilseeds plants, of which sunflower 77.3 %, rape 13.2% and soybean 10.3%, and to produce 6,133 thousand tons seeds of which 79% from sunflower, 11.7% from rape and 7.5 % from soybean. Rape crop was deeply affected by the severe droughts in the last years and this diminished seeds output. In 2019, Romania occupied the following positions in the EU-28 for production performance: the 3rd for oilseeds output, the 1st for sunflower seeds, the 2nd for soybean seeds and the 5th for rape seeds. To increase performance in oilseed sector, Romanian farmers have to adapt to the climate change paying attention to the following technological aspects: to use high earlier and production potential varieties and hybrids and resistant to drought, diseases and pests; to chose the best period for sowing depending on the soil moisture and temperature, to assure an optimum fertilization level, crop maintenance and harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

The purpose of the paper was to analyze vegetables and mainly tomatoes contribution to fruit production and consumption in Romania. Based on the statistical data for the period 2007-2014, it was studied the dynamics of the surface cultivated with vegetables and tomatoes, vegetable and tomatoes production, tomatoes yield, vegetable and tomatoes production per inhabitant, and also consumption and producer's price. Although vegetable and tomatoes cultivated area declined by 22%, and respectively by 10%, vegetable production reached 3,808 thousand tons and tomatoes production 711 thousand tons in 2014. For this reason, Romania comes on the 8th position among the top tomatoes producers in the EU-28. The vegetable intake of 186 kg and tomatoes consumption of 38 kg per capita and year, Romania exceeds WHO's recommendations assuring a healthy offer to its inhabitants. Tomatoes are a top vegetable contributing by 18.3% to the cultivated area with vegetables and by 18.9% to vegetable production. But, tomatoes yield of 15.1 tons per ha in 2014 is still small compared to other top producers. And tomatoes price at farm gate is Euro 73/100 kg much higher than in other countries. For this reason, to increase productivity and efficiency along the product chain, it is needed to extend tomatoes growing in green houses by investing in modern farms where modern technologies to be implemented. Producers must join their capital and efforts into an associative forms, to enlarge farm size for getting cheaper farm inputs, for applying modern technologies, for better selling their products. An EU financial support is required, but the EU criteria should be revised and much better tailored to the concrete conditions of Romania's small holdings, which are the most numerous in the Community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]