Irrigation is becoming a strategic necessity for Romanian farms, especially in regions exposed to drought. According to INS and the Ministry of Agriculture (MADR, 2024), the effectively irrigated area in Romania remains below 350,000 ha, even though the rehabilitated infrastructure covers more than one million hectares. The gap between available infrastructure and actual use is explained by the high cost of equipment and the need to modernise local pumping stations.

In the European Commission’s Agricultural Water Use Report 2024, farms that apply plot-level irrigation achieve yields 20–40% higher, particularly for forage crops, alfalfa, and silage maize. Equipment such as hose-reel irrigators, pivot systems, and micro-irrigation solutions is becoming increasingly accessible, and farmers who adopt them reduce dependence on rainfall while stabilising production.

Through the CAP Strategic Plan (PNS), AFIR finances the purchase of irrigation equipment, including pumps, pipelines, control systems, and soil-moisture sensors. Interest in such investments increased in 2024, according to the agency’s reports, with many farms applying for funding to modernise their irrigation systems.

In today’s climatic context, on-farm irrigation is no longer optional—it is a prerequisite for maintaining competitiveness. Investments in modern equipment represent a strategic advantage for the years ahead.

(Photo: Freepik)