Romania Faces Severe Drought in 2022

Romania is experiencing a substantial precipitation deficit, and the signs show no improvement soon. According to the specialists, 2022 will be among the driest in recorded history.

Expert estimates place corn and sunflower as the two agricultural crops most affected by the severe pedological drought, with Moldova experiencing the region’s lowest annual rainfall (322.6 litres per square meter) in 2022.

Romanian authorities are concerned about this topic, warning the population of the effects of drought on agricultural production but also on the need for water rationalization usage during this period.

The primary goal of the Romanian government is to put irrigation systems into operation, and all the line ministries and responsible authorities will assist in counteracting the impacts created by the drought already affecting a big part of Europe.

The Romanian Prime Minister, Nicolae Ciuca, called, at the Victoria Palace in July 2022, the first meeting of the inter-ministerial committee for the management of the effects produced by climate change in agriculture, in which the effects produced by the pedological drought were also analyzed.

It is necessary to intervene quickly, with all our national and European resources, to protect our agriculture and Romanian farmers. We will continue to invest in and modernize agriculture to reduce our dependence on the weather situation. Putting irrigation systems into operation is our top priority. All the network of main canals of the state must be revitalized and expanded to bring water to the secondary sectors of farmers. The measures we will implement in the areas affected by drought will be based on the proposals of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and all the line ministries and responsible authorities will contribute to combating the effects generated by this drought that is already affecting a large part of Europe.

Nicolae Ciuca, Romanian Prime Minister

The eastern half of the country and the western and northwestern regions have the most significant water deficit and are much more affected by climate change.

Corn and sunflower are the most impacted crops. However, the considerably deeper root system compared to field crops can offer a minor improvement in water consumption. Fruit trees and vines also have issues.

Due to climate changes and rising temperatures, Romania is facing a severe problem—the potential for water depletion. This problem exists even during the winter. Given the current context, the agricultural sector is one of the most essential sources in Romania, so measures are needed to reduce the drought’s effect and keep the agricultural industry at today’s levels.