DYNAMICS OF PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCT USE IN VÂLCEA COUNTY: ECOLOGICAL AND REGULATORY PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

This study examines the long-term transformation of pesticide use in Romania between 1990 and 2024, integrating official statistical data with field evidence from Vâlcea County. The analysis reveals a structural paradox: although total pesticide quantities have decreased sharply since 2000, the ecological pressure remains significant, shifting from high-dose fungicidal applications to persistent herbicide use. Herbicides now account for approximately 88.6% of total PPP active substance mass nationally, and 44.3% in Vâlcea County. This “herbicidal risk paradox” illustrates that “less active substance” does not automatically mean “less ecological risk.” A complementary field survey (n = 76) identifies a knowledge–practice gap among farmers, with only 48% regularly using protective equipment. The study concludes that quantitative reduction targets under the EU Farm to Fork Strategy are insufficient without Integrated Pest Management (IPM) adoption and enhanced farmer training.