ASSESSING THE CURRENT STATE OF DEVELOPMENT OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN THE NORTH-EAST REGION OF ROMANIA

Abstract

The paper analyses the development of organic agriculture in the North-East Development Region of Romania, particularly during the current economic crisis. The organic agriculture sector represents a relatively new area of ​​interest for farmers in Romania, as the first signs of organisation and utilisation of land and livestock according to organic farming rules and principles date back to 1997, when the first organic producers’ association, known as “Asociaţia Bioterra”, was established.

In recent years, organic farming has grown exponentially in Romania, the North-East Development Region being the main region in the country in terms of the number of registered operators, areas of organic pasture and total agricultural areas. About 20% of all organic farming activity was conducted, in 2013, in the counties in the North-East Development Region.

Ecological farmers in Suceava county are among the promoters of this crop system in Romania, their number (2,000) being very high in relation to the number of farmers in the region and even the country overall, standing at about 13% in 2013.

For the purposes of analysing the evolution of the organic farming sector in the North-East Development Region of Romania, official statistical sources were consulted and the reports of the Agriculture directorates of the counties of Bacău, Botoșani, Iaşi, Neamţ, Suceava and Vaslui.

The findings demonstrate that organic agriculture in North-East Development Region of Romania is in a stage of consolidation, with the vast majority of agricultural land and of livestock farmed according to the rules and principles of organic agriculture are certified.