AN OVERVIEW OF LITHUANIAN AGRICULTURE

The structure of farmers

End of the 19th century – beginning of the 20th century

75 % of the population – peasants. They possessed 50 % of the land

4 % of the population – landlords. They owned 36 % of the land.

Merchant, craftsmen and the church owned 14 % of the land.

1/3 of the peasants were landless or had very small holdings.

The structure of farmers

1918-1939

The land of landlords was expropriated leaving them only at 80-150 ha

720 thous. ha of expropriated land was divided among 100 thous. of the landless

They had to redeem the land in 36 years.

The structure of farmers

1940-1989

In 1941 the first „kolchoz“ appeared In 1941 started mass deportations (on 14 June were

deported 1600 farmers) At that time there were 390 thous. farmers (average holding 8,5 ha)

In 1951 there were 3000 collective farms (their aver. area -1340 ha), in 1960 – 1900 collective farms (their aver. area -1990 ha)

In 1989 – 830 collective farms (their aver. area -3930 ha) Collective farmers owned up to 0,6 ha

The structure of farmers

Since 1990

In 1993 there were 6000 agricultural companies 500 thous. farmers.

In 2000 - 2300 agricultural companies

400 thous. farmers

The structure of agricultural land

The area of agricultural land – 4 mill. ha (61 %)

The area of agricultural crops – 3,4 mill. ha(53 %)

Including arable land – 2,9 mill. ha (85 %

of the country‘s territory)

Meadows, pastureland – 0,45 mill. ha

(13,5 % from the crops area)

Gardens – 0,04 mill. ha

(1,3 % from the crops area)

Land quality classification started in 1926

Changes in crop areas, thous. ha

Crops Year

1939 1950 1970 1990 2005

Grain crops 1687 1493 856 1084 885

Including rye 567 504 159 168 60

Wheat 207 186 130 346 283

Barley 222 109 437 398 296

Oats 380 373 53 77 48

LegumesNo data 124 59 82 21

Flax 86 76 54 23 10

Beet roots 9 26 26 21 26

Potatoes 203 225 174 112 93

Maize - - 84 78 14

Rapes - - - 11 67

Crop yield t/haCrops

Year

1985 1990 2000 2005

Grain crops 2,50 3,01 2,68 3,03

Including rye

2,14 2,80 2,34 2,46

Wheat 2,77 3,39 3,56 3,61

Barley 2,62 2,99 2,43 2,93

Oats 2,10 2,53 1,87 2,37

Legumes 2,31 2,44 1,84 2,32

Flax 0,42 0,44 0,83 0,54

Beet roots 27 28 32 38

Potatoes 14 14 16 15

Maize 31 28 28 28

Rapes - 2,2 2,2 1,8

Stockbreeding production thous. t

ProductionYear

1939 1945 1950 1970 1990

Meat180 110 190 390 530

Dairy products 1240 710 850 2490 3160

The structure of vegetables

Year 1935

Cabbage - 37 %

Beans - 17 %

Beetroots - 16 %

Carrots - 14 %

Onions - 10 %

The structure of vegetables

Year 1980

Cabbbage - 25 %

Green peas - 18 %

Carrots - 16 %

Beetroots - 15 %

Cucumbers - 10 %

Onions - 4 %

The structure of fruit trees

Year 1930

Apple trees - 42 %

Cherry trees - 36 %

Pear treesd - 11 %

Plum trees - 11 %

The structure of fruit trees

At present

Gardens occupy 38 thous. ha

They produce 1 % of agricultural production. Prevail apple trees. 80 % of berry production comprise currents and strawberries

Amelioration (applying drainage) thous. ha

In 1925 - 0,1In 1930 - 1,2In 1935 - 5,7In 1940 - 4,9In 1950 - 0,9In 1960 - 156In 1980 - 490In 1990 - 180

Mechanization in agricultural sector

Up to the middle of the 20th century - horses

In 1920 tractors started to be used

Number of tractors in agricultural sector

In 1945 - 340

In 1950 - 3250

In 1955 - 8600

In 1990 - 73000

In 2002 - 111000

Significance of agricultural sector in the economy of the

country

Year 2003

GDP - 56 mlrd. Lt

Share of agricultural production within GDP - 4,1 mlrd. Lt (7,3 %)