The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) has issued an official position following information that has recently appeared in the public sphere regarding the manner in which procurement procedures related to investments in the main irrigation infrastructure have been conducted. The institution specifies that procurements carried out through the National Agency for Land Improvements (ANIF) strictly complied with the legislation in force and were conducted under conditions of transparency, competition, and equal treatment for economic operators. At the same time, Minister Florin-Ionuț Barbu announces the request for a government-level inspection team, under the authority of the Government, to verify the tenders related to irrigation investments.

Ministry of Agriculture: “Procurement procedures for irrigation investments were conducted legally and transparently”

In the context of information recently circulated in the public sphere regarding the manner in which procurement procedures related to investments in the main irrigation infrastructure have been conducted, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) makes the following clarifications:

In 2025, through the National Agency for Land Improvements (ANIF), three works contracts were signed, with a total value of RON 182,911,161.77 (approximately EUR 36.5 million), aimed at the modernization and rehabilitation of the main irrigation infrastructure.

All public procurement procedures were organized and conducted in strict compliance with the legislation in force, under conditions of transparency, competition, and equal treatment for all interested economic operators.

Given the strategic importance of investments in the irrigation system for Romania’s food security and for the sustainable development of agriculture, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Florin-Ionuț Barbu, requested that the Prime Minister of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, establish a government-level inspection team to verify the organization and conduct of the tenders related to investments in the main irrigation infrastructure carried out through ANIF.

“The irrigation system represents a vital area for the development of agriculture and one of the major priorities of my mandate. Precisely for this reason, I want every project, every tender, and every leu invested in irrigation infrastructure to comply impeccably with the legal and administrative framework. Total transparency and strict observance of the law are essential for strengthening the trust of farmers and the general public in these strategic investments,” stated Minister Florin-Ionuț Barbu.

To date, inspections carried out by the competent institutions have not identified any irregularities in the conduct of the public procurement procedures managed by ANIF.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development emphasizes that any statements regarding alleged irregularities must be based on documents, verifiable data, and official findings, and not on speculation or defamatory statements that may mislead the public and unjustifiably affect the credibility of state institutions and strategic projects for Romania.

MADR reaffirms its firm commitment to transparency, legality, and the responsible use of public funds allocated to the modernization of the national irrigation system and will make available to all oversight institutions the documents necessary to clarify any aspects.

Additional information

For a complete and accurate information of the public, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development provides the following annexes:

Annex 1 – The situation of works contracts concluded in 2025 by ANIF for irrigation schemes under the National Program for the Rehabilitation of the Main Irrigation Infrastructure, showing that the total value of the contracts is approximately EUR 36.5 million, significantly different from the amount of EUR 837 million erroneously circulated in the public space.

Annex 2 – The list of the 71 commercial companies currently carrying out rehabilitation works under the National Program for the Rehabilitation of the Main Irrigation Infrastructure, based on contracts currently under implementation.

Annex 3 – The official letter sent by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to the Prime Minister of Romania, requesting the establishment of a government-level inspection team to verify the procurement procedures and contracts related to investments in the main irrigation infrastructure.

Conclusion

Through this position, MADR conveys that the procurement procedures managed by ANIF for the 2025 investments were conducted within the legal framework and in compliance with the principles of transparency. The Ministry insists on the difference between the actual value of the signed contracts (approximately EUR 36.5 million) and the amounts circulated publicly, while simultaneously announcing the request for a government inspection to verify the tenders and contracts. In the coming period, the annexed documents and any conclusions of the institutional verifications will officially clarify the issues under public debate.