Volume 51a History, Statistics and Trends of the Romanian

8/18/2019 Volume 51a History, Statistics and Trends of the Romanian

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History, Statistics and Trends of the Romanian

Potato Industry

S. C. Chiru & Gh. Olteanu & L. E. Asanache

Received: 14 October 2008 /Accepted: 15 October 2008 /

Published online: 22 November 2008

# EAPR 2008

Abstract This paper provides some important data on the evolution of the potato crop

in Romania including aspects of research and development, differentiated on the basis

of period and location. The paper also presents an analysis of the causes of the low

potato yield per hectare in Romania. An analysis of the situation of the potato industry

in Romania in comparison with the potato sectors of other Central and East European

countries, over the period 1996 – 2006, reveals that — after Poland — Romania occupies

the second place in terms of potato acreage and total production. Present and future

objectives are described to solve the current problems of the potato crop in Romania

under the prevailing economic and climatic conditions.

Keywords History . Potato research . Romania . Statistical data

History

Potato has a relatively long tradition in Romanian agriculture. The first historic

references to potato production are made in Transylvania in the eighteenth century:in 1760 the “Practical Knowledge for the Potato Crop” was published (Morar 1999).

Like in other European countries the big famine of 1800 contributed to the spread

of potato across all three Romanian provinces (Moldavia, Transylvania and

Walachia). The different names for potato still in use in the Romanian language

reflect the areas from which potato was originally introduced, the majority being in

Germany and Austria.

With the passing of time the importance of the crop increased. Potato is now

considered the “second bread” of Romania.

Potato Research (2008) 51:217 – 222

DOI 10.1007/s11540-008-9119-9

NO9119; No of Pages

S. C. Chiru (*) : G. Olteanu : L. E. Asanache

National Institute of R&D for Potato and Sugar Beet (INCDCSZ) Brasov, P.O. Box 500470,

Fundaturii str. 2, Brasov, Romania

e-mail: [email protected]

Gh. Olteanu & L. E. Asanache


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Statistics and Trends

Except for the period 1970 – 1990 when potato production in Romania was based on

a large-scale, industrial system of cultivation, in both earlier and present periods, the

potato crop is mainly grown on small plots.During the last 50 years, the average potato production area was 250,000 –

316,000 ha (putting Romania on the second or third rank with Germany and after

Poland) with an average yield of 14.5 t ha−1 and a total production of 2.6 – 4.4 million

tonnes (Fig. 1).

Comparison with an average yield of 30 – 40 t ha−1 in western countries in the

same period shows that the yield in Romania was 2.5 to 3 times smaller. The lower

yields per hectare in Romania are associated with the following limiting factors

(Chiru et al. 2006):

& small size of agricultural enterprises (more than two million landowners have

less than 0.3 ha (Table 1);

& poor phytosanitary quality of planting material;

& lack of financial resources for potato growers;

& low professional level of potato growers;

& poor weather conditions of the last years (Olteanu et al. 2008; Figs. 2 and 3).

Over the last years, the potato crop in Romania has been confronted with some

problems linked to climate and weather. In the Brasov area, in the period 1961 –

2007, the average annual temperature increased from 7.3 °C to 8.0 °C (Fig. 2) and

the total annual rainfall decreased from 620.0 to 570.0 mm (Fig. 3).

An analysis of the situation of the potato industry in Romania in comparison with

the potato sectors of other Central and East European countries, over the period

1996 – 2006, reveals that — after Poland — Romania occupies the second place in terms

of potato acreage and total production. A general and characteristic phenomenon

observed in Central and East Europe is that the area cropped with potato is declining

rapidly. The potato acreage of the year 2006 was only about 49 – 68% of the average

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

1957-1960

1961-1970

1971-1980

1981-1990

1991-2000

2001-2007

2008

Period

A r e a ( 1 0 0 0 h a )

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

18.0

Y i e l d ( t / h a )

Area Yie ld Trend (Yield) Trend (Area)

Fig. 1 Evolution of potato area and average yield in Romania in the last 50 years (1957 – 2007) and the

values for 2008. Sources: FAO Databases and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Romania

218 Potato Research (2008) 51:217 – 222


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area under potato in the period 1996 – 2006. The only exception is Romania where the

potato acreage in 2006 was still 95% of the average acreage over the period 1996 –

2006. Also the total potato production declined in a similar way in Central and East

Europe but not in Romania (Table 2).

Results of Potato Research in Romania

In the Brasov area, potato research has a long tradition and this is justified by the

favourable ecological conditions, but also by the importance of this crop for food,

industry and animal fodder.

Potato research started in Romania after the foundation of the Agricultural

Research Institute ICAR in 1927. In 1967, the Research Institute for Potato and

Sugar Beet Brasov (ICCS) was set up, an event which marked the beginning of modern research on potato. In 2007, the fact that the Institute had uninterruptedly

been active for 40 years was celebrated.

Table 1 The size of agricultural enterprises (2007)

Type of agricultural enterprise Number of landowners Average potato area (ha)

Individual growers 2,261,000 0.3

Family associations 1,197 13.7Companies 498 25.6

Research and development units 5 86.0

Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Romania

6.06.26.46.66.87.07.27.47.67.88.08.28.48.68.89.09.29.49.69.8

10.0

1 9 6 1 1 9 6 3 1 9 6 5 1 9 6 7 1 9 6 9 1 9 7 1 1 9 7 3 1 9 7 5 1 9 7 7 1 9 7 9 1 9 8 1 1 9 8 3 1 9 8 5 1 9 8 7 1 9 8 9 1 9 9 1 1 9 9 3 1 9 9 5 1 9 9 7 1 9 9 9 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 3 2 0 0 5 2 0 0 7

Period

( 0 C )

Av. ann. temp. Trend (Av. ann. temp.)

Fig. 2 Average annual temperature in the Brasov area (1961 – 2007)

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Between 1920 and 1950, because of the importance of potato breeding, research

was started to create the best varieties from the wealth of diversity that exists world

wide (Chiru et al. 1992, 2006). First, varieties were created at Bod by Stephani,

starting in 1923 (e.g., Maikoning, Edelrosen). Velican created the varieties Ardeal,

Someşan and Napoca, between 1930 and 1945.

An important qualitative leap in the potato breeding activity occurred between

1951 and 1966, after improving the selection methodology and applying restrictive

Table 2 Evolution of the potato acreage and total potato production in Romania and in six other countries

in Central and East Europe for the period 1996 – 2006 and in 2006

Country Area (ha×1,000) Total production (t×1,000)

Average

1996 – 2006

2006 Difference Percentage Average

1996 – 2006

2006 Difference Percentage

Poland 1,112.39 597.23 515.16 54 20,008.46 8,981.98 11,026.48 45

Romania 299.38 283.09 16.29 95 4,155.01 4,015.90 139.11 97Czech Rep. 61.17 30.03 31.14 49 1,309.05 692.17 779.02 53

Hungary 46.16 22.58 23.58 49 991.58 574.44 417.14 58

Bulgaria 44.94 24.47 20.47 54 523.74 386.05 137.69 74

Slovakia 29.56 18.38 11.18 62 464.21 263.08 201.13 57

Slovenia 8.73 5.92 2.81 68 179.02 106.97 72.05 60

Sources: FAO Databases and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Romania

350.0370.0

390.0410.0430.0450.0470.0490.0510.0530.0550.0570.0590.0610.0630.0650.0670.0690.0710.0730.0

750.0770.0790.0810.0830.0850.0870.0890.0

1 9 6 1

1 9 6 3

1 9 6 5

1 9 6 7

1 9 6 9

1 9 7 1

1 9 7 3

1 9 7 5

1 9 7 7

1 9 7 9

1 9 8 1

1 9 8 3

1 9 8 5

1 9 8 7

1 9 8 9

1 9 9 1

1 9 9 3

1 9 9 5

1 9 9 7

1 9 9 9

2 0 0 1

2 0 0 3

2 0 0 5

2 0 0 7

Period

( m m )

Total ann. rainfall Trend (Total ann. rainfall)

Fig. 3 Total annual rainfall in the Brasov area (1961 – 2007)

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breeding criteria concerning the resistance to late blight, wart disease, and virus

diseases (Constantinescu et al. 1969).

Between 1951 and 1966, the following potato varieties were created: Bucur,

Colina, Poiana, Padina, Ghimbăşan, Măgura, Carpatin and Braşovean. During the

period 1967 – 2000, another 30 potato varieties were obtained, the most representa-tive being: Semenic, Super, Mureşan, Rustic, Roclas, Nana, Christian, Nicoleta,

Redsec, Rozana, Robusta and Suceviţ a. These varieties, characterized by superior

performance, were the result of an intensification of the breeding activity, both at the

Institute and at the Miercurea Ciuc, Târgu Secuiesc, and Suceava research stations

(Bozeşan 2002). During the period 2000 – 2007, 25 new potato varieties were created,

with proper qualities for different uses. Special attention was given to precocity,

dynamics of tuberization and ecological plasticity. In this period, the varieties

Dumbrava, Transilvania, Magic, Astral, Claudiu, Luiza, Milenium, Rozal and

Amicii were created.Identifying potato degeneration zones and the production of varieties for different

uses were important research aims. Based on the results of this research, closed

zones for potato production based on climatic conditions and production purposes

(early potato, summer potato, autumn – winter consumption, seed potato and

processing) were created. Elucidating the phenomena of seed potato degeneration

allowed establishing theoretical and practical bases to create a national system of

seed potato production. This system ensured the necessary planting material from

internal production until 1990 (Draica et al. 1992).

To increase the accuracy of the diagnosis of potato viruses (especially PLRV,PVY and PVA), ELISA techniques were introduced and extended, starting in 1998.

Taking into consideration that resistance to pests and diseases of potato is an

important element to reduce yield losses, an important activity was done to elaborate

new testing methods for late blight resistance, in the field, in the greenhouse and in

the laboratory. Potato varieties bred in Romania had a field resistance comparable

with those of foreign varieties. Due to the introduction of new standards for seed

quality, other pests were studied as well. These include wireworms, potato root

nematodes, potato cyst nematodes, which all affect potato yield and quality

(Plămădeală 1989). The results from the efforts over the period 1967 – 2007

materialized in 380 breeding lines, over 40 new potato varieties, 130 technologies

and modern methodologies, and 2000 – 2400 t/year of biological material from

superior categories.

Present and Future Objectives

To solve the problems of Romanian potato crop under the prevailing economic and

climatic conditions, the scientific research in Romania has set the followingobjectives:

1. Development of potato breeding and genetic research through new genomic and

technological approaches, to obtain genotypes, which correspond to present and

future requirements regarding the production of healthier food, with high

qualities, suitable for ecological agriculture and which permit utilization of new

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protective technological methods more friendly to the environment, with

conservation potential to regenerate natural resources.

The ways to reach these objectives are the following:

& improving yield and quality, increasing diversity and breeding new genotypes

with special characteristics (antioxidants, vitamins, essential nutrients);

& obtaining stress resisting genotypes to reduce the effects of adverse

conditions (climate changes, high CO2 concentration, pollution);

& breeding genotypes suitable for processing;

& breeding genotypes suitable to be grown under organic agriculture conditions.

2. Development of clean technologies “from farm to fork ” in accordance with

sustainable agricultural principles, increasing food security and safety, respect-

ing general and specific requirements of the market.

Directions to reach these objectives are:

& perfecting the technologies and drawing up the Guide for Good Agricultural

Practices (GAP).

& elaboration of decision support systems (DSS) for all involved processes

(production, pest and disease management, and farm management).

& promoting the principles of Precision Farming through organizing a Centre

of Excellence (based on the newest scientific achievements: intelligent and

cognitive systems for monitoring, modelling and management of processes

in potato agro-ecosystems).

3. Promoting alternative technologies for the potato crop to obtain ecological

products.

Specific technologies for ecological crops with high environmental protection

should be elaborated and promoted.

References

Bozesan I (2002) Realizari si perspective privind genetica si ameliorarea cartofului (Achievements and perspectives of potato genetics and breeding). Lucr ări ştiinţ ifice (Anale) ICDCSZ Brasov 29:16 – 36

Chiru S, Gorea T, Cupşa A, Muresan S, Chiru N, Boţ oman GH, Pop L (1992) 25 de ani de cercetare în

domeniul cartofului — Ameliorarea cartofului (25 years of potato research — potato breeding). Lucr ări

ştiinţ ifice (Anale) ICPC Braşov 19:26 – 38

Chiru SC, Olteanu G, Dima LE (2006) Actual state and future trends of the Romanian potato industry. In:

Haase NU, Haverkort AJ (eds) Potato development in changing Europe. Wageningen Academic

Publishers, Wageningen, pp 242 – 249

Constantinescu E (ed) (1969) Ameliorarea cartofului (Potato breeding). In: Cartoful (Potato). Agrosilvică,

Bucureşti, pp 70 – 154

Draica C et al (1992) 25 de ani de cercetare în domeniul cartofului — Contribuţ ia ICPC Braşov la

dezvoltarea cartofului în România, (25 years of potato research — ICPC contribution to potato

development in Romania). Lucr ări ştiinţ ifice (Anale) ICPC Braşov 19:4 – 25

Morar G (1999) Cultura cartofului [Potato crop]. Ed. RISOPRINT, Cluj-Napoca, p 197

Olteanu Gh, Aldea C, Buiuc M, Olteanu C, Asanache L (2008) Climatic changes and potato crop

production in central part of Romania. In: Chiru et al. (eds) Potato for a changing world. Abstracts of

Papers and Posters, 17th Triennial Conference of the EAPR, July 6 – 10, 2008, Brasov, pp 286 – 289

Plămădeală B (1989) Aprecierea rezistenţ ei tuberculilor de cartof la principalele ciuperci parasite,

[Estimation of tubers resistance to main parasite fungus]. Analele ICPC 16:207 – 215

222 Potato Research (2008) 51:217 – 222

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