Winter wheat is the main crop that is grown in Romania during this reporting period. It was sown last October. Sowing of maize and spring wheat started in April. During this reporting period, rainfall decreased 24%, temperature increased 3.2℃  and solar radiation (RADPAR) by 2%, as compared to the 15YA. The lower rainfall lead to  a biomass reduction by 2%. CALF increased by 5% as compared to the 5YA, and the maximum VCI was 0.97. The NDVI temporal development shows that, except for January to early February, crop conditions were above the 5YA and close to the 5 year maximum. The CPI  in this reporting period was a bit lower than last year, but  still above 1.0, indicating relatively good crop production condition. All in all, the conditions in Romania were close to or above average, despite of the rainfall deficit.

Regional analysis

More spatial detail is provided below for the three main agro-ecological zones: the Central mixed farming and pasture Carpathian hills (165), the Eastern and southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plains  (166) and the Western and central maize, wheat and sugar beet plateau (167).

For the Central mixed farming and pasture Carpathian hills, compared to the 15YA, radiation increased by 7%, rainfall decreased by 20% and temperature increased 3.2℃. BIOMSS increased by 10%. According to the NDVI development graph, crop conditions were below average until March and subsequently stayed close to the maximum. The regional average maximum VCI was 1.01. Regional CALF was 98%, which was 1% higher than average. The NDVI spatial distribution shows that NDVI was good throughout the reporting period.  The CPI of this region is 1.14, which is fair. 

For the Eastern and Southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plains, rainfall decreased by 35%, temperature increased by 3.4℃, radiation increased by 3% and biomass decreased by 10% as compared to the 15YA. The NDVI development graph shows that crop conditions were below average starting in January and above average after early March. Regional CALF was 96%, which was 7% higher than average. Maximum VCI value of this region was 0.96. VCI values were above 0.80 in the southeast area of this sub-region (counties of Tulcea and Constanta), representing about 14.3% of the national cropland. The CPI of this region is 1.20. All in all, crop conditions can be assessed as slightly above average.

For the Western and central maize, wheat and sugar beet plateau, radiation was higher than average by 2%, temperature was 2.9℃ higher and rainfall was 13% lower and biomass increased by 7%. Spatial NDVI profiles show that crop conditions were above average since March. Regional CALF was 98%, 1% higher than average. Maximum VCI of this region was 0.97, and the spatial distribution was above 1.0 in most of the areas. The CPI of this region is 1.10. Crop conditions can be assessed as favorable.

Figure3.38 Romania’s crop condition, January - April 2024

(a) Phenology of major crops

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (c)  Maximum VCI

(d) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA        (e) NDVI profiles

(f) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Central mixed farming and pasture Carpathian hills (left) and Eastern and southern maize, wheat and sugarbeet plains (right))

(g) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Western and central maize, wheat and sugar beet plateau)

(h) Rainfall index                                                (i) Temperature index

(j) CPI of Romania

Table 3.68 Romania's agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 15YA, January April 2024

Table 3.69 Romania's agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 5YA, January - April 2024