Agriculture is one of the fields where the consequences of state abuse are especially severe and affect the entire population.
Romanian agriculture is not poor, but it is poorly managed and receives insufficient state support. It is demonstrated by the disastrous trade balance data for food products. Last year, our country exported 2.1 billion euros while importing 6.8 billion euros. We're talking about a massive deficit of 4.7 billion euros, which leads us to the conclusion that we export products with low per-kilogram prices and import products with very high per-kilogram prices. To put it another way, we export raw materials and import finished goods.
According to estimates made by experts in the field, more than two-thirds of Romanians' food consumption is met by imports.
Although we have a good agricultural production at the European level, in terms of corn, grains, and sunflowers, Romania frequently ranks first in the EU both in terms of cultivated area and production, Romanian farmers, particularly small producers, have faced the same problem for three decades, namely a lack of raw material processing factories. This means that more than 30% of small producers are in poverty.
Farmers also complain that only about one million hectares of the 14 million hectares of agricultural land have irrigation systems.
FACIAS has requested that the Ministry of Agriculture intervene immediately in order to save Romanian farmers and local food production, and to inform us:
- How it assists Romanian farmers in adapting to dominant market positions;
- What quality systems are used by manufacturers;
- What are the development plans for the next 10-15 years, what about the four electoral cycles?
- When will he enact consistent legislation to assist Romanian producers?
- What programs does it offer to Romanian producers who want to collaborate?
The Ministry of Agriculture is obligated to act to support Romanian producers so that the trade deficit in food products decreases in the coming years and Romanians can consume more quality domestic products at competitive prices.
The state must be able to perform one of its most fundamental functions, that of protecting its citizens.
