Territorial Disparities, Structural Imbalances and Economic Implications in the Potato Crop System in Romania

At the European level, potato cultivation is highly polarized. In Western Europe (Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark), yields are high, agricultural technology is advanced, and production systems ensure stability and competitiveness. In contrast, in Eastern and Southern Europe (including Romania, Poland, Italy, and Spain), yields are considerably lower due to the use of outdated agricultural practices, a low degree of mechanization, and increased exposure to adverse climatic factors. In Romania, potato cultivation is marked by significant territorial disparities and structural imbalances, influenced by land fragmentation, agro-pedoclimatic variability, and the lack of capital necessary for investments in modern technologies and irrigation systems. This study analyzes these regional disparities in relation to the country’s real agricultural potential and quantifies the economic impact of its failure to realize it. The methodology applied is based on descriptive statistical analysis of data at the county and regional level for the period 2003–2024, including minimum, maximum, average, and standard deviations of yields. These were integrated into a production function that correlates cultivated areas with average prices, highlighting major intra-regional differences and significant economic consequences at the national level. The results indicate a double crisis: a drastic reduction in the areas cultivated with potatoes (from 196,000 ha in 2017 to 76,000 ha in 2024) and consistently low yields (12,000–18,000 kg/ha), which led to the collapse of total production (from 3.1 million tons in 2017 to under 1 million tons in 2024). As a result, Romania registers a productivity three to four times lower than the reference Western European countries. Moreover, Romania has moved from being a net exporter to a net importer of potatoes, with the food self-sufficiency indicator decreasing from 100.3% in 2017 to 48.1% in 2023. Although domestic production could theoretically cover consumption needs, structural problems regarding yields, the sharp reduction in cultivated areas, and distribution deficiencies have seriously affected the balance of the domestic market. While per capita consumption has remained relatively constant, the decline in production has led, after 2021, to an increasing dependence on imports. These trends highlight the need for urgent structural reforms, technological modernization, and targeted agricultural policies to increase productivity and restore food security in the Romanian potato crop system.