Throughout this paper, the theoretical concepts from the above areas were combined with the analysis and interpretation of statistical data from the same areas of interest, resulting in a detailed analysis of how the agricultural labour force influences the yields of the five most important crops in the Romanian agricultural sector, namely, wheat, maize, sunflower, rapeseed and soybean. The analysis was carried out within the eight NUTS-listed development regions. A bibliometric analysis of the importance of the academic environment for agricultural labour force research was previously carried out using VOSviewer software. The content of this document aims to determine the impact that the agricultural labour force has on the productivity of the five main crops cultivated in Romania over large areas during the period 2015–2019, where, although the population employed in agriculture has decreased, the yields of these crops have increased due to the technological development process started in agriculture. As of 2019, only 9% of the total Romanian population is represented by the population employed in agriculture and 39.41% and 61.37% of the total area of the country are represented by arable/agricultural area, respectively.

Irrigation is the main measure to combat the effects of drought on cultivated plants. Natural phenomena that generate natural disasters are excessive drought persisting over time affecting non-irrigated land, climatic and market conditions require producers to invest more and more in irrigation systems, which would allow them to increase the quality, but also the quantity ofproduction. That would make them more competitive. Agriculture is facing risks that have lately gained a different intensity than in previous years. In our country, the disasters caused to agriculture by drought are known, this year being the country most affected by drought, with a minus of 14.5%, given that the entire Europe lost 12% of the total quantity produced according tothe European Commission.The current situation of the irrigation system faces numerous and difficult problems, being in an advanced stage of degradation, and in much of the surface of these facilities, irrigation is not functional, and functional irrigations are inefficient in terms of water and energy consumption, being expensive for farmers. Farmers should be encouraged to contribute to the rehabilitation of keyirrigation infrastructure. The implementation of irrigation systems within the agricultural territory is carried out based on preliminary climatic, hydric, hydrogeological, pedological, topographical, geotechnical, and agroeconomic studies. These studies aim to highlight the agricultural territories where it is necessary to fill the water deficit, to indicate the sources of water that can be captured, the territorial configuration of the irrigation system, its functioning regime, investment costs, andforms of its recovery.

The Local Action Group (LAG) is represented by a form of partnership established in a rural territory that brings together representatives of the public, private and civil society sectors in that territory, created with the aim of implementing LEADER methods, receiving funding based on the Strategy of Local Development developed previously and authorized by the responsible Management Authority, the amount of the allocated amount being established according to the area of the LAG territory and the number of inhabitants. The Local Action Group "Colinele Oltenia" is located, from a geographical point of view, in the south-western part of Romania and is part, from an administrative point of view, of the South-West Oltenia Development Region and consists of a total of 17 localities. During the analyzed period, a number of 22 projects were submitted to the "Colinele Olteniei" LAG, with a total eligible value of 1,479,187.5 euros, of which only 16 projects were contracted with an eligible value a total of 993,944.14 euros, where the Agency for the Financing of Rural Investments paid to the beneficiaries 157,875 euros from the total sum of 993,944.14 euros, which represents the total support related to the projects declared eligible and for which financing contracts were signed.

The establishment of irrigation systems falls within the provisions of Article 73 and Article 74 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and contributes to achieving the objective of promoting sustainable development and efficient management of natural resources, such as water, soil, and air, including by reducing chemical dependence. The study focuses exclusively on the modernization of secondary irrigation infrastructure outside the farm. Investments in the modernization of irrigation infrastructure are necessary to improve efficiency by reducing water loss, enhancing energy efficiency, reducing agriculture's dependency on weather conditions, increasing farmers' competitiveness, and helping the sector face long-term challengesposed by climate change. The modernization, rehabilitation, and development of irrigation infrastructure through the national strategic plan encompasses all operations aimed at improving the operational parameters of irrigation infrastructure through the use of new and modern technologies, equipment, components, and materials to enhance the performance of this infrastructure. This ensures the efficient use of water for irrigation and reduces environmental impact on existing sites without altering their original purpose or functionality. In justified situations, through technical expertise and techno-economic arguments, elements of the infrastructure may be relocated without affecting the functionality of the entire system, for example: relocation ofpressurizing pumping stations, changing the routes of buried pipes, etc.

The NRDP is structured into a series of measures designed to support, modernize, and promote the sustainable development of Romania’s rural areas.Sub-measure 4.2 – “Support for investments in the processing/marketing and/or development of agricultural products” is part of Measure 4 – Investments in physical assets. This sub-measure has multiple objectives: strengthening the competitiveness of primary producers by improving their integration into the agri-food chain, supporting participation in quality schemes, increasing the added value of agricultural products, and promoting their presence on local markets. With regard to DR 22, this intervention is entitled “Investments in conditioning, storage, and processing of agricultural and horticultural products.” It is part of the Strategic Plan for the period 2023–2027 (CAP SP 2023–2027) under the umbrella of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). Its primary aim is to modernize and expand infrastructure, ensuring that storage and processing capacities meet both current and future market demands.This study undertakes an analytical approach focused on the number of projects financed and the increase in storage capacity achieved through the absorption of European funds. The analysis concentrates on the modernization of grain and industrial crop storage facilities in the South-West Oltenia Region, during the period 2015–2024, and assesses their impact on the local economy.Ultimately, the paper intends to monitor and highlight the dynamics of modernization projects targeting storage capacities for cereals and industrial crops through Sub-measure 4.2 and DR 22 at the level of the South-West Oltenia Region.

This paper analyses the impact of the INVESTALIM and DR 23 financing measures on the development of processing capacities in the Romanian food industry. These support measures aim to modernise and expand food processing lines, essential for increasing the quality and competitiveness of local products. In a sector marked by high requirements regarding processing safety and efficiency, these financing programmes provide companies with resources to adopt modern technologies, such as process automation, resource consumption optimisation and production loss reduction. The paper details the stages of food processing and the solutions supported by the INVESTALIM and DR 23 measures, with a focus on technological innovations and the implementation of sustainable practices. The market trends leading to the adaptation of processing capacities, as well as consumer demands for healthy and value-added food products, are analysed. The study demonstrates that investments in processing processes supported by these measures contribute to increasing the performance and competitiveness of the Romanian food industry.