The income per worker in Romanian agriculture is expected to fall significantly in 2012. EU statistical office Eurostat predicts a 16.4 percent real agriculture income per worker drop this year, the largest decline in the Union. Hungary is also in line for a big fall – some 15.7 percent, but Bulgaria should see an 8.7 percent rise in real agriculture income per worker this year.

At an EU level, a 1 percent advance is expected in income per worker, with increases estimated in 16 member states and decreases in 11. The biggest rise is expected in Belgium, some 30 percent, while the Netherlands and Lithuania will also see significant increases in income per worker, by 14.9 and 13.6 percent respectively.

Eurostat also provides a reference figure for 2005, compared to which, Romanian agriculture worker income has risen by 29.8 percent, almost exactly the same as the EU average increase from 2005 – 29.7 percent. Against the 2005 figures, the biggest advances are in Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Estonia, between 75 and 110 percent up. Meanwhile, Italy, Ireland and Luxembourg have seen falls.

Prices for agricultural produce rose slightly for crops (0.5 percent ) and more significantly for animal produce (up 3.8 percent). Real price increases for crops were almost completely canceled out by an overall lower level of production. Prices for animal produce rose, while there was only a very slight fall in production levels.

EU agricultural input costs are estimated to have risen by 1.6 percent in real terms. This rise was fueled by increases in a range of costs, such as building maintenance, animal feed, seeds, fertilizers and financial services.

Liam Lever, liam@romania-insider.com