Constanta farmers have to face, during this period, the great challenges generated, on the one hand, by Mother Nature, and on the other hand, by the human factor/international context, marked by the war in Ukraine and which influences in a very good way measure the final prices of cereals. Farmers are waiting for rains from God and support from the authorities!
Not long from now, at the level of Constanţa county, the process of harvesting the first agricultural crops will begin and both the farmers, the main actors of the phenomenon, and the simple citizens, the final beneficiaries, are wondering if we will have enough products and at what prices.
In some regions of Romania, the situation is dramatic in the case of many crops, the sudden drought wreaking havoc. About the current situation in Constanta agriculture, I discussed with Dr. Eng. Ion Bulică, the general director of the Valu lui Traian Agricultural Research and Development Station.
“The crops look good at the present time, the plants have developed normally, the wheat is at a height of 80 centimeters, barley and sorghum, at 80-100 centimeters. Autumn crops are planted, weeding is done. Regarding precipitation, in April, we had 85 liters per square meter, and in May, 25 liters per square meter. In 40-45 days, the barley harvest will begin, and then the wheat harvest. The harvest is expected to be good, let’s see how the prices will be”, said general director Ion Bulică for “Cuget Liber”.
The Agricultural Research and Development Station Valu lui Traian is a reference unit in Constanta agriculture. It has research laboratories whose main objectives are the production and improvement of wheat, orzoa, barley, corn, sunflower, pea, oat and Sudan grass seeds, the development and testing of seed production technology, the protection of crops by developing strategies of disease and pest control, seed testing, associated product testing (herbicides, pest treatments, seed treatments). Also, Constanta farmers can find here advice regarding the choice of the right seeds according to the type of soil, crop rotation, advice on irrigation or any other agricultural technology.
Firm measures, not crossed arms!
If Mother Nature was quite lenient, the Constanta farmers have great reasons to worry about prices, which can be easily influenced – for the worse! – the “invasion” of products from Ukraine.
“As in any business, prices are dictated by the market, however, in the current context, in which Romania is a corridor for Ukrainian grains, we can have big problems. The authorities sit with their hands crossed and watch inertly, without firmly intervening and ensuring that those products only transit through the territory of our country. In reality, thousands of tons remain in Romania and are bought at dumping prices, which we will never be able to offer. And that’s because, in Ukraine, all kinds of substances are used in agriculture that the European Union forbids us. There are different rules, different costs. Harvest time is approaching and we are waiting for protection from the Romanian authorities. You saw what happened in the winter, not only in Romania, but in all of Europe. There were violent protests, we hope it won’t happen again, and we will be able to sell our products on a normal market”, Adrian P., a wheat grower, declared for “Cuget Liber”.
According to estimates, for this year’s harvest, a ton of wheat would be quoted somewhere around the 200 euro threshold, while barley would be sold for 650 lei per ton, and corn for 700 lei per ton. .
