Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Florin Barbu has recently stated that Romania has become a European leader in the poultry sector, adding that he will do his utmost to develop also the dairy/beef and pig sectors, which are still far below their potential and causing serious trade imbalances and undesired dependence on imports. He is currently busy visiting all the regions of Romania, discussing with farmers and agribusinesses. During his recent visit to Braila area (south-east Romania) he gave a sneak preview of his livestock development plans.
Romania has become an important player in the poultry sector
During his mid-August visit to the Braila area (important agricultural region in the south-east of Romania), Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Florin Barbu stated that Romania has become a European leader in the poultry sector, mentioning that last year the country exported important quantities of poultry to EU countries. “We are the strongest force in the poultry sector within the European Union. Last year, we exported over 200 million chickens to important countries such as France, Italy and the UK.”
Big development plans for the Romanian livestock sector
Minister Barbu disclosed his plans to develop the livestock sector. “We intend to continue this approach with the pork sector, as well as with the dairy and beef cattle sectors. I will go to the European Commission (...) and I assure you that I will continue to support that all pig and cattle breeding - we are talking about dairy cows and beef cows - be subsidized from European funds, and over 4 billion EUR from 2028 will go directly to Romania's livestock farming. (...) The only economic engine for Romania is agriculture, livestock and the food industry. Everyone, from the Prime Minister to the last minister, must understand that agriculture remains Romania's only chance," Florin Barbu stated.
Integrating crop and livestock production and investing in processing are key
The Agriculture Minister announced that in the next few years, Romania will implement programmes and processing units worth approximately 2 billion EUR, underscoring the necessity to integrate crop production with livestock and processing in order to avoid dependence on imported raw materials. "In the next 2-3 years, Romania will implement programmes and processing units worth 2 billion EUR. What we need to do next? To integrate crop with livestock farming. This is paramount. Because, if we don't go on this three important areas - crop, livestock and processing - we'll end up in three years with processing units producing goods from imported raw materials. I don't want that, because any product which leaves Romania carries the best, the cleanest label," Barbu underscored.
New rules for future support
Minister Barbu also stated that the subsidies for coupled support will be conditioned from now on by the integration crop with livestock, in order to ensure the raw materials needed by processing units in Romania" Barbu stated. And added that he would no longer accept companies to receive coupled support for example for alfalfa without having a single animal on the farm, assuring that this “will no longer happen in Romania”.
Interested in getting more insight into the developments of the Romanian livestock sector and the opportunities that might be there for your business?
Then the forthcoming Dutch agri trade mission to Romania planned for the end of October 2025 might be a good occasion for you to receive first-hand information and see in practice what it can mean for your business.