Study regarding the situation of agricultural consultancy in the North–East Region of Romania

The undertaken study aimed to diagnose the situation of agricultural consultancy from the North – East Region of Romania, 12 years after its foundation. For the realization of the study thequestionnaires method has been utilized which have been completed by a number of 80 agriculturalconsultancy specialists from 6 counties in the North – East Region. From the responses analysis, thefollowing aspects emerged. All persons that ensure consultancy develop general activities from all fieldsof agriculture. There is a shortage of specialists, a person providing services to several thousand farmers.The consultants have benefited from training courses in consultancy, a short period of time, 2-8 weeks,fact that reflects on the services rendered. The local consultancy centres have a precarious endowment(office, computer, telephone), lacking transport means, training rooms, endowment with specificauxiliary means. Between consultancy methods, the biggest share is held by individual officeconsultancy. Group consultancy, which has the highest efficiency, is done sporadically because ofreduced financial means. A lack of interest from local authorities is manifested for consultancy activity.Specialists are unhappy with the level of salaries, reduced training possibilities, high work volume, lack ofendowment and transport means, and political interference in the recruitment process.