AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY IN ROMANIA FOLLOWING EUROPEAN UNION ACCESSION: TRENDS AND CHALLENGES AFTER 2007

Abstract

This paper analyses the evolution of agricultural productivity in Romania following its accession to the European Union, with a particular focus on the last decade, 2015–2024. The study employs key economic indicators, such as the gross value added generated by agriculture, the utilised agricultural area, and the agricultural labour force, based on official data from the National Institute of Statistics, Eurostat, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. By calculating land and labour productivity, the analysis aims to highlight the main trends and structural challenges faced by Romanian agriculture. The findings reveal significant progress in the sector's efficiency, driven by investments, support policies, and technological modernisation, alongside persistent vulnerabilities linked to farm fragmentation and the resilience of small-scale holdings. The paper concludes with a series of recommendations on strengthening agricultural productivity through targeted agricultural and rural development policies that are adapted to emerging economic and climatic realities. Overall, the study seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of the transformations experienced by Romanian agriculture within a dynamic and competitive European framework.