As Romania swelters under relentless heatwaves with temperatures soaring above 40°C, farmers across the country are facing a dire situation. The prolonged drought has not only parched their fields but also led to an alarming shortage of animal feed, forcing many to make the heartbreaking decision to sell off their livestock.
In Olt County, bordering Bulgaria, farmer Traian Gîrtan is among those who have been hit hardest by the crisis. The soaring cost of animal feed has left him with no choice but to sell a portion of his 30-cattle herd. With the harsh winter months looming, Gîrtan is preparing to sell half of his remaining livestock in a desperate bid to stay afloat. “Feed prices have nearly doubled compared to last year, while cattle prices have plummeted by 30% to 40%,” Gîrtan revealed, adding that the monthly cost of feeding his herd now stands at around €1,000.
This troubling scenario is not unique to Olt County. Farmers across Romania are grappling with the same challenges as feed supplies dwindle. Speaking to Euronews on August 21, representatives from the Romanian livestock farming community highlighted the severity of the crisis. Dumitru Grigorean, president of the Romanian Cattle Breeders Association, warned that many farmers would likely be forced to sell off their herds by October or November. “The effects of this situation will be felt for a long time,” Grigorean lamented.
He further estimated that Romania’s cattle population, once numbering around 7 million, has now dwindled to just about 1 million. The association expressed grave concerns that once these cattle farms shut down, the likelihood of them reopening is extremely low. This trend could have devastating long-term consequences for Romania’s agricultural sector, which is already under immense pressure.
In response to the ongoing drought, which has left over two million hectares of farmland barren, the Romanian government has introduced several measures aimed at supporting struggling farmers. However, the scale of the crisis suggests that much more needs to be done to prevent the collapse of the livestock farming industry in the country.
As the drought continues to ravage Romania’s agricultural landscape, the plight of its farmers serves as a stark reminder of the broader impacts of climate change on food security and rural livelihoods. The future of Romania’s livestock farming hangs in the balance, and the decisions made in the coming months will be crucial in determining whether these farms can survive this unprecedented challenge
