Assessing the Economic Vulnerability of Romanian Tomato Growers to Extreme Weather Events

Abstract

Vegetable cultivation plays an essential role in the agricultural economy. However, amid increasingly pressing economic and climatic factors that significantly influence the sustainability of this sector, vegetable production in Romania has a downward trend. Similarly to other field crops, open-field tomato production is exposed to climate risks, such as extreme temperatures and drought, factors that have significantly impacted Romanian agriculture during the 2024–2025 period. This study aims to analyze the risk exposure of tomato cultivation under unfavorable climatic conditions and to emphasize the importance of financial support in protecting farmers’ incomes. By using a detailed income and expenditure budget, the study evaluates the financial vulnerability of the production process and analyzes the effects of crop losses on farm profitability. The results indicate substantial income losses for farmers in the event of crop damage, with estimated losses of 5280 EUR/ha for a 30% damage level and 10,912 EUR/ha for 50% damage. These findings highlight the importance of financial support provided through national public policies (SP PAC 2023–2027), along with the proposal of crop insurance as an effective tool for risk management and financial protection of farmers. This measure could contribute to mitigating the economic impact on farmers affected by climatic factors.