RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

The Economic Effects of Drought

Romania has been facing prolonged drought, with dramatic effects particularly on agriculture and transports

The Economic Effects of Drought
The Economic Effects of Drought

, 17.08.2015, 13:06

The prolonged drought of July and August has created big problems for Romanian farmers, who say their crops are compromised on hundreds of thousands of hectares, in most regions of the country, the total volume of losses exceeding 2 billion Euros. Meteorologists say it should rain uninterruptedly for two weeks, for the underground water reserves to reach normal levels again.



According to official data, this is the longest period of extreme heat and drought registered in Romania in recent years. With the exception of few counties in the centre and the north of the territory, all others have been affected. The situation is worsened by the lack of an irrigation system, which could have made the difference. At present, only 300,000 hectares of land can be irrigated, as compared to 3.3 million in 1989.



In this context, the Romanian government is ready to pay compensations to the farmers whose crops have been severely affected by drought. Prime Minister Victor Ponta has said the situation does not look very dramatic in the case of wheat crops. In exchange, maize crops are the most affected. The prime minister has underlined that the effects of this summers drought will be felt until the end of the year, and these should be compensated by measures to stabilise other branches of the economy, as well, in order to sustain the upward course of the economy.



As of this summer, Romanian farmers might also receive damages from the EU solidarity fund, to offset their losses. To that end, the Romanian government should however provide the European Commission with exact data on the consequences of this prolonged period of extreme heat, without precipitations, the EU Commissioner for Regional Development, Corina Cretu has said.



Drought affects not only agriculture, but also transport on the Danube, which has been restricted because of the alarmingly low level of the river. Sea transporters have to reduce speed, particularly in critical areas. Furthermore, deep draught vessels have to transfer a part of the cargo on smaller ships, to be able to cross the areas with low water depth. Many ships are blocked on the entire course of the Danube, an important transport route for oil and grains from the east to the west of Europe.



Drought also impacts fisheries and tourism in the Danube Delta, where access is rendered difficult on canals and lakes. The inhabitants of this unique area in Europe, included by UNESCO on its list of World Heritage Sites, are facing substantial losses, and have called for the support of the authorities to reduce their fishing quotas.

Bogdan Despescu
Today in the News Tuesday, 01 April 2025

Romania marks one year since joining Schengen

Romania marks one year since partial accession to the Schengen area.   Romania marks one year since joining Schengen with air and sea borders, a...

Romania marks one year since joining Schengen
SEA SHIELD 25 Multinational Exercise
Today in the News Tuesday, 01 April 2025

Sea Shield Exercise

  “Sea Shield 25”, the largest multinational training exercise organised this year by the Romanian Navy, has begun in Constanta. A roughly...

Sea Shield Exercise
Source: MAPN
Today in the News Monday, 31 March 2025

Romania celebrates 21 years of NATO membership

Romania will continue to contribute to promoting global security and the democratic values, said interim president Ilie Bolojan on the 21st...

Romania celebrates 21 years of NATO membership
Şedinta CSAT (Credits: presidency.ro)
Today in the News Monday, 31 March 2025

Security and defense measures in Bucharest

“We are facing a complicated context after the annulled presidential election of last year, we have a strong distrust in both institutions and the...

Security and defense measures in Bucharest
Today in the News Friday, 28 March 2025

Paris hosts Ukraine summit

At the summit hosted by Paris, representatives of countries that have expressed their willingness to help Ukraine held talks on the security and...

Paris hosts Ukraine summit
Today in the News Friday, 28 March 2025

Drones can be downed legally

The Constitutional Court of Romania rejected, on Thursday, the complaints of the sovereigntist parties AUR, POT and S.O.S. Romania regarding two...

Drones can be downed legally
Today in the News Thursday, 27 March 2025

New legislation for the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan

Romanian MPs on Wednesday passed two bills that Romania pledged to adopt as part of its Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The first concerns...

New legislation for the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan
Today in the News Thursday, 27 March 2025

Romania cuts state expenses

The rising budget deficit has prompted the Romanian administration to take aggressive measures to cut state expenditure. Cuts were made to budgets,...

Romania cuts state expenses

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company