Curierul National: National production of cereals for grains dropped 11.2% in 2009

The production of cereals for grains declined by 11.2% in 2009, as against the previous year, to 14.934 million tonnes from 16.826 million tonnes, mainly due to a reduction in yields per hectare (average production per hectare), namely wheat by -30.0%, barley and two-row barley by -26.4%, and oats by -23.7%.

According to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS), maize grains registered a 5.3% increase in yield per hectare, and the total production increased by 2.4%. Romania grows mainly maize grains (44.3% of the area planted with cereals for grains) and wheat (40.8%). The production of leguminous grains registered a 16.1% drop last year, due to a lower average yield per hectare, although cultivated area increased by 5.4%.

The oil plants production decreased by 9.7%, although cultivated area increased by 3.3%. Decreases were registered in sunflower (-7.4%), soybeans (-6.6%) and rape (-15.0%), although the area planted with rape increased by 17.8%.
The data from the National Institute of Statistics also shows that sugar beet production decreased by 3.1%, mainly due to a lower yield per hectare, cultivated area remaining at the level of the previous year.

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