Archive:Agricultural census in Lithuania
This article is part of a series of country-specific essays on the results of the European Union (EU) Farm structure survey (FSS) 2010. The FSS collects information on the structural characteristics of the agricultural holdings (land use, livestock and labour force) and is carried out by all European Union Member States every 10 years as an Agricultural census, with two or three additional, intermediate sample surveys carried out in-between. The present analysis of the farm structure includes a comparison with the FSS 2003, the first Agricultural census carried out in Lithuania after the re-establishment of the independence.
Source: Eurostat (ef_kvaareg) (ef_ov_kvaa) (demo_pjan) and FSS, 2003 and 2010
_by_UAA_size_classes_Lithuania_2010.PNG)
Source: Eurostat (ef_kvaareg) (ef_ov_kvaa)
Source: Eurostat (ef_kvftreg)
Source: Eurostat (ef_lu_ovcropaa) (ef_oluaareg)
Source: Eurostat (ef_lu_ovcropaa) (ef_oluaareg)
Source: Eurostat (ef_mptenure)
Source: Source: Eurostat (ef_pmhouscatlaa)
Main statistical findings
Key indicators
During the 2003-2010 timeframe, roughly one in four agricultural holdings closed down in Lithuania. Accordingly, as exhibited in Table 1, the number of farms decreased from 272 110 to 199 910.
On the other hand, the Utilised Agricultural Area (UAA) increased by 10 % over the very same period: from 2 490 960 ha in 2003 to 2 742 560 ha in 2010. Accordingly, in 2010 the UAA covered 42 % of the land of the whole country in Lithuania. Similarly, the average area per holding increased moving from 9.2 ha in 2003 to 13.7 ha in 2010 (+50 %), thus suggesting that small farms were incorporated within the bigger ones.
Furthermore, figures on the labour force displayed a similar tendency, as the number of people regularly working on farms dropped by 32 %: from 539 950 in 2003 to 366 090 in 2010. Nonetheless, the number of people employed in the agricultural sector still represented a considerable share of the active population in Lithuania (22.5 %).[1]
According to the FSS 2010 data, in Lithuania there were 0.82 hectares of UAA on average per inhabitant. This value represented an increase of 14.5 % if compared to the figure recorded in 2003 - due to a simultaneous fall in the population and a grow in the UAA - and is one of the highest in the EU, also the highest among the Baltic countries.
Agricultural holdings
In 2010, the majority of the agricultural holdings (58 %) were found to have less than 5 hectares of UAA in Lithuania (see Figure 1). The farms whose UAA ranged from 2 ha to 4.9 ha were the most common, accounting for 42 % of all the Lithuanian agricultural holdings. In terms of the agricultural area though, these farms accounted for a minor share: 12 % of the UAA of the country. On the contrary, most of the UAA of Lithuania (54 %) was found to belong to a small number of bigger farms (4 %), i.e. those with 50 hectares or more of UAA.
When comparing the FSS 2003 data with the FSS 2010 data, a general decrease in both the number of holdings and the hectares of UAA could be observed in most of the size classes of farms. In particular, figures fell for all the small and medium sized holdings – the ones whose UAA ranged from less than 2 hectares to 29.9 ha. On the other hand, values for holdings with 30 or more hectares of UAA increased substantially, thus confirming the tendency for the bigger farms to absorb the smaller ones.
The highest increase was recorded for the largest agricultural holdings, those with 100 hectares or more of UAA. Over the 2003-2010 timeframe, their UAA increased by 75 % while their number rose by 84 %. Conversely, the sharpest decrease was registered for those farms whose UAA ranged from 2 ha to 4.9 ha: -37 % in terms of both UAA and the number of holdings.
Economic size of the farm
In terms of the Standard Output (SO), the economic size of all Lithuanian agricultural holdings was EUR 1 526 million in 2010. This value, calculated by adding all the standard output per hectare of crop and per head of livestock in a farm, was by far the highest among the Baltic countries.
When compared to the FSS 2007 value of EUR 1 322 million (see Table 2), the FSS 2010 data showed a 15.5 % increase of SO. The growth in terms of SO was recorded for all the economic classes of agricultural holdings, with the exception of those with an economic size of less than EUR 8 000. In particular, the highest increase (73.3 %) was recorded for the farms with an economic size ranging from EUR 100 000 to EUR 249 499. The second highest growth was registered for smaller farms, those with an economic size of EUR 50 000 to EUR 99 999.
On the contrary, the agricultural holdings whose SO was lower than EUR 1 000 showed the sharpest drop (-31.1 %). The second worst drop was recorded for the farms with the SO of EUR 2 000 to EUR 3 999 (-22.7 %).
In 2010, roughly one fourth of all the SO of Lithuania was produced by farms with EUR 500 000 of SO or more. A very similar share was recorded for the farms with less than EUR 8 000 of SO.
Agricultural holding by main type of farming
As exhibited in Figure 2, holdings specialised in general field cropping were found to be the most common in Lithuania. According to the Agricultural census 2010, they represented about 20 % of the total number of holdings. The share of the farms classified as specialised in dairy farming proved to be slightly smaller (18 %), while the farms focusing on various crops and livestock combined accounted for 15 %, as much as the holdings specialised in mixed cropping. Agricultural holdings specialised in any other kind of production recorded a share lower than 10 %.
In terms of the economic size, the hierarchy of the holdings looked different, as showed in Figure 3. When using the SO for measuring the main type of farming, one fourth of the total SO of Lithuania appeared to come from farms specialised in cereals, oilseed and protein crops. A very similar share was reported for holdings specialised in dairy farming. Farms specialised in crop-grazing livestock combined appeared to account for the only other double-digit percentage (13 %).
Land use
The utilised agricultural area (UAA) is the total area taken up by arable land, permanent grassland and meadow, as well as permanent crops and kitchen gardens used by the holdings, regardless of the type of tenure or of whether it is used as a part of common land.
The UAA of Lithuania essentially consists of arable land and permanent grassland and meadows. In 2010, arable land accounted for 77.1 % of the total UAA, while permanent grassland and meadows recorded a share of 22.1 %. Figures looked different in 2003, when arable land accounted for 60.1 % of the total UAA and permanent grassland and meadow shared 39.1 %.
Arable land
In Lithuania, arable land is mainly used for the production of cereals. Accordingly, cereals accounted for 38 % of the total UAA in 2010, a value which highlights an increase of 20.4 % over the 2003 figure. Furthermore, fodder crops gained importance over the years, reaching a share of 20.6 % of the UAA in 2010; in 2003 it was 8.5 %. A similar trend characterised the cultivation of industrial crops, whose share of the UAA changed from 3.3 % in 2003 to 9.8 % in 2010.
Permanent grassland and meadows
Although the area of permanent grassland and meadows is still highly important in Lithuania, it decreased by 38 % over the 2003-2010 timeframe. Consequently, it accounted for 22.1 % of the UAA in 2010 (605 870 hectares). In 2010, almost all permanent grassland and meadow was found to be dedicated to permanent pasture (19.5 % of the UAA), while a small percentage (2.6 %) was recorded as not used for production or eligible for subsidies – generally, this was land used for keeping the soil in good agricultural and environmental condition (GAEC).
Livestock
According to the 2010 data, there were 0.27 Livestock Unit (LSU) per inhabitant in Lithuania. In 2003 there were 0.34, since the number of LSU decreased faster than the population during the timeframe considered.
By far cattle are the most import livestock in Lithuania: in 2010 they represented 64 % of the whole livestock population. According to the FSS 2010 data, the second highest share of livestock was represented by pigs (22 %), with the third being the poultry (10 %). Less important in relative terms, the equidae (3 %) was the livestock that decreased the most over the 2003-2010 timeframe (-56 %).
In 2010, the number of agricultural holdings with livestock halved when compared to the FSS 2003 data: from 253 360 to 129 630. Far from being evenly distributed between all the different size classes of agricultural holdings, this decrease in number of farms with livestock involved more the smaller holdings rather than the bigger ones. According to the FSS 2010 data, the farms with more than 5 LSU and less than 10 LSU were the ones that experienced the greatest fall (-61 %), followed by the holdings with less than 5 LSU (-50 %). On the contrary, the number of agricultural holdings with 20 LSU or more grew. In particular, the number of farms with 50 to 99 LSU tripled, whereas figures for farms with 100 to 499 LSU more than doubled.
Labour force
In the 2003-2010 timeframe, a general fall in the labour force employed in the agricultural sector was observed in Lithuania (see Table 5). According to the FSS 2010 data, roughly one third of the persons working in agriculture in 2003 left this sector. The decrease appears to be similar both in terms of persons working in agriculture and the Annual Working Unit (AWU).
In what concerns sole holders and gender distinction, figures appear to decline equally for both gender classes (-32 %); hence the relative share of male and female sole holders did not change over the time considered.
Management practices
Type of tenure
According to the 2010 data, in Lithuania the majority of the UAA (51.3 %) was owned by the farmers who actually worked on that land: 1 406 610 hectares (see Table 6). On the contrary, 1 273 390 hectares of UAA (46.4 %) were cultivated by tenants. The percentage of land under shared farming or other modes was marginal in Lithuania.
Animal housing
Among the Baltic countries, Lithuania showed the highest figures in terms of animal housing. According to the FSS 2010 data, there were 93 050 holdings rising 739 090 heads of cattle. The results of the Survey on the Agricultural production methods (SAPM) carried out in parallel with the census showed that her were around 825 000 places for cattle on Lithuanian farms, a capacity higher than the heads of cattle actually recorded in the country.
The vast majority of housing places were found to be recorded under the ‘other’ category (374 410), while the second most common type of housing was the one where animals are stanchion tied stable with solid dung and liquid manure (291 240 places). Furthermore, loose housing with solid dung and liquid manure was recorded as the third most common type of housing (87 530), accounting for 12 % of heads of cattle (see Table 7). The other kind of loose housing, where the animals are allowed to move more freely, accounted for 6 % of the total heads of cattle, while the values related to the housing where cattle are stanchion tied stable with slurry were found to be secondary.
Other gainful activities
In Lithuania, only a marginal number of farms (1 510) were found to have other gainful activities in 2010. Representing a minor share of the whole population of agricultural holdings (0.8 %), these farms recorded activities other than farm work, directly related to the holding and having an economic impact on the holding.
Organic farming
Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on the minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain or enhance ecological harmony.
Among the Baltic countries, Lithuania had the second widest area under organic farming in 2010, with the highest figure recorded for Latvia. The area under organic farming as well as the number of holdings sharing this practice grew steadily over the years. Nonetheless, on a national scale, organic farming remains marginal as in 2010 it was practiced only by roughly 1 % of all the holdings, covering only 4 % of the total UAA (an area mostly dedicated to organic meadows and pasture).
Data sources and availability
Methodological notes Lithuania – Agricultural census 2010
The Agricultural census 2010 was carried out by Statistics Lithuania according to the European Union regulation and the national acts. Statistics Lithuania was responsible for the methodological, technical and organisational preparation of the census; data were collected with the help of five regional statistical offices.
In Lithuania, the Agricultural census 2010 was the second Agricultural census to be carried out after the restoration of independence – the first one was conducted in 2003. Afterwards, two sample farm structure surveys (FSS) followed in 2005 and 2007.
Survey on agricultural production methods (SAPM)
In 2010 a unique survey was carried out together with the Agricultural census: the Survey on agricultural productions methods (SAPM). This survey collected data at regional level needed to establish agri-environmental indicators as indicated in COM final 508/2006 and to evaluate the greening of the Common agricultural policy.
Data were collected according to specifications listed in Annex V of regulation 1166/2008, namely data on tillage methods, soil conservation, landscape features, animal grazing, animal housing, manure application, manure storage and treatment facilities and irrigation.
In Lithuania, data on agricultural production methods and other gainful activities were collected exhaustively together with the census. Accordingly, the SAPM was not conducted as a sample survey but as a full-scale survey.
Reference period
Data for the Agricultural Census 2010 were mostly recorded as of the 1st June 2010, whereas the reference period for the SAPM and the information on other gainful activities was the timeframe between the 1st of June 2009 and the 31st of May 2010. This timeframe applied also to data on the Farm labour force.
Threshold for agricultural holdings
In Lithuania, all agricultural holdings growing crops or housing animals were interviewed. Nonetheless, small farms with less than 1 hectares of utilized agricultural area and income lower than LTL 5 000 – approximately EUR 1 448 – were excluded from the Agricultural census and were surveyed only for national purposes.
Common land
In Lithuania, Common land is a non-existent characteristic.
Geo-reference of the holding
Since only partial information could be drawn from administrative sources to identify the locations of the farms, two ad hoc questions were added in the questionnaires in Lithuania. Subsequently, the coordinates of the geographic centre of the villages where the holdings were found were used to locate the farms.
Economic size
From FSS 2007 onwards, the Standard output (SO), a new classification of the economic size of the holding, is used. The SO replaced the Standard gross margin SGM used before. Nonetheless, for comparability reasons, for FSS 2007 both classifications are available.
Volume of irrigation water
Due to its meteorological conditions characterised by optimal humidity, irrigation was found to be a secondary issue in Lithuania. Indeed, pilot studies proved that only a few farms (about 0.01% of all the agricultural holdings) have irrigated area in the country.
Nonetheless, data on irrigation were collected within the context of the Agricultural census 2010. All water used for irrigation purposes was taken into account for the calculation, including water used for irrigation of crops under glass. Since kitchen gardens are not significant in Lithuania, the total volume of water used for irrigation did not take into account the water used for their irrigation.
Context
The European Commission Rural development policy aims to improve competitiveness in agriculture and forestry, improve the environment and the countryside, improve the quality of life in rural areas and encourage the diversification of rural economies.
As agriculture has modernised and the importance of industry and services within the economy has increased, so agriculture has become much less important as a source of jobs. Consequently, increasing emphasis is placed on the role farmers can play in rural development, including forestry, biodiversity, the diversification of the rural economy, in order to create alternative jobs and environmental protection in rural areas.
The FSS continues to adapt in order to provide timely and relevant data to help analyse and follow these developments.
Further Eurostat information
Main tables
- Agriculture, see:
- Structure of agricultural holdings (t_ef)
Database
- Agriculture, see:
- Structure of agricultural holdings (ef)
Dedicated section
Methodology / Metadata
- Structure of agricultural holdings (ESMS metadata file - ef_esms)
- Methodological Report – FSS 2010 Lithuania
- Methodological Report – FSS 2007 Lithuania
Source data for tables and figures (MS Excel)
Other information
- Regulation 1166/2008 of 19 November 2008 on farm structure surveys and the survey on agricultural production methods and repealing Council Regulation 571/88
- Regulation 1200/2009 of 30 November 2009 implementing Regulation 1166/2008 on farm structure surveys and the survey on agricultural production methods, as regards livestock unit coefficients and definitions of the characteristics
See also
External links
Notes
- ↑ A value calculated over the total number of active people aged 15 to 64, as it is reported by the 4th quarter of 2010 of the EU Labour force survey (LFS) Population by sex, age, nationality and labour status (1 000) (lfsq_pganws).