Agriculture maintains its contribution of approximately 4-5% to GDP in 2025

Agriculture maintains its contribution of approximately 4-5 % to the GDP in 2025, and if the food industry, processing and related sectors are also taken into account, the total contribution exceeds 10% of the national economy, reveals the 'White Paper on Agriculture'recently launched by IMM Romania. 'With long agricultural tradition and significant natural resources, Romania has over 13.3 million hectars of agricultural land, out of which 8.3 million ha are arable land, which places it in sixth place in the European Union after France, Spain, Germany, Poland and Italy.In 2025, agriculture continues to contribute to approximately 4-5% and if we take into account the food industry, processing and related sectors, the total contribution is over 10% of the national economy,says the author of the work. At the same time, almost 18-20% of the active population works in agriculture, a significant share, higher than the European Union average - approximately 4%. This figure confirms the major socio-economic dependence of the rural environment on agricultural activities but also the necessity to increase productivity through investment in mechanisation, digitalisation and professional training. As for salaries, the net average income in agriculture was approximately 3,931 lei in 2024, up against the previous years, but about 20-25% lower than the national average. The total value of Romanian agricultural production was estimated at over 22 billion euro in 2023, according to the Eurostat data, keeping Romania on the seventh place in the EU from the point of view of general economic volume. Despite these results, the level of productivity stays under the European average, as a result of land fragmentation, reduced use of modern technologies and increased vulnerability to climatic changes. Agriculture represents one of the main engines of Romanian exports. Romania is an important regional exporter of cereals, oilseeds and agri-food products, with a positive trade balance in this sector. The main exporter products are wheat, corn and sunflower, which reach countries in the European Union, the Middle East and North Africa, the research shows. At the same time, processing food industry contributes ever more in increasing the added value through competitive finite products, such as vegetable oils, wines and dairy products. As for the chapter on main challenges, the authors of ' the White Book of Agriculture'' mention excessive fragmentation of the land and lack of association among farmers; lacking rural infrastructure and limited access to loans; stronger effects of the climate changes on production; lack of digital skills and technology in the rural environment. As regards development opportunities, the authors refer to modernisation of the farms through digitalisation, mechanisation and technological innovation; increase of the sector in ecological agriculture, in accordance with the objectives of the European Green Deal; putting to value the European funds for green and digital transition; development of short supply chains and the consolidation of local markets; the stimulation of agricultural cooperatives and associations, which can generate economies of scale and a stronger competitive position. 'In 2025, Romania's agriculture is defined as an exceptional agricultural potential as well as by a complex set of structural challenges. Although the sector faces vulnerabilities connected to climate change, fragmentation and limited access to financing, the general direction is one of transformation and professionalism. Through investments in infrastructure, digitalisation and training of the human resource, the Romanian agriculture can become a strategic vector of national economy, capable to contribute not only the GDP increase but to the revitalisation of the rural areas and the consolidation of the food security of Romania and the European Union' shows the work made by IMM Romania. The research was made in 2024 through investigation on the basis of a questionnaire applied to a number of 439 enterprises - micro, small and middle - from all development regions of Romania and from all age categories. The selected sample is considered representative for the SMEs in agriculture, offering a solid base for conclusions and recommendations regarding the present state of agriculture. The questionnaires were completed mainly by entrepreneurs and managers active in the agricultural field, covering various branches - from crop production and animal husbandry to related services and agricultural product processing. The research aimed to identify the main trends in the sector, assess access to financing, digitalisation, human resources, risks and public policies. The geographical distribution of the sample ensures a balanced coverage of the eight development regions, reflecting the regional specificity of Romanian agriculture and the difference in economic structure between areas. Thus, the research provides a detailed picture of the realities on the ground and allows for comparative analysis between regions, enterprise categories and business size.