RESEARCH ON INVESTMENTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF GRAIN AND INDUSTRIAL CROP STORAGE CAPACITIES THROUGH NON-REIMBURSABLE FUNDS, IN ROMANIA

This study evaluates the efficiency of public investments directed toward the development of cereal and industrial crop storage capacities in Romania under Sub-measure 4.2 of the National Rural Development Programme (2014–2020) and Directive DR-22 of the CAP Strategic Plan (2023–2027). The analysis covers the period 2015–2025 and is based on two performance indicators: (i) storage capacity relative to the area cultivated with cereals and industrial crops, and (ii) public investment per hectare of cultivated land. These indicators provide insights into both the adequacy of storage infrastructure and the intensity of non-reimbursable financial support, enabling regional and national comparisons over time. The results highlight a fluctuating but overall upward trend in investments. Initial allocations were modest in 2015 (€8.4 million), followed by substantial increases in 2016–2018, with a first peak in 2018 (€150.6 million). After a sharp decline in 2019 and the absence of allocations in 2020 and 2023, funding reached its highest level in 2024 (€286.8 million). Regionally, the largest total investments were recorded in South-East and North-West, reflecting their strong agricultural potential, while the smallest allocations occurred in Bucharest-Ilfov.The cultivated area with cereals and industrial crops remained relatively stable, averaging 6.9 million hectares annually, with South-Muntenia and South-East together accounting for nearly half of the national total. Authorized storage capacity increased from 22.6 million tons in 2015 to 32.3 million tons in 2024, with the highest values concentrated in South-East, South-Muntenia, and West. The storage capacity per hectare rose nationally from 3.3 t/ha in 2015 to 4.7 t/ha in 2024 (+43%), though marked regional disparities persist. Public investment intensity followed a cyclical pattern, culminating in 2024 with a record €41.9/ha. Overall, findings confirm significant improvements in storage infrastructure but also underline uneven regional development and reliance on funding cycles.