The Socio-Economics Factors in Family Farms with Different Economic Sustainability Levels from Central and Eastern Europe

Economic sustainability plays an important role in shaping conditions for economic growth and social development. The importance of answering the question about the level of sustainability of family farms results from the fact that the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, apart from exceptions (e.g. the Czech Republic and Slovakia), are characterized by a fragmented agrarian structure. Hence, the main goal of this article was to answer two questions: 1) whether the countries of Central and Eastern Europe differ in the level of economic sustainability of small family farms; and 2) whether the same socioeconomic factors impact similarly on the level of economic sustainability of small family farms from countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The study was based on surveys conducted in small family farms: in 2018 from Poland (672 farms) and in 2019 in four other countries (Lithuania; 999 farms, Romania; 834 farms, Serbia; 523 farms, Moldova; 530 farms). The publication includes a critical analysis of the literature, structure analysis and correlation analysis. The results show the occurrence of large differences between the economic sustainability of small family farms from the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The research indicates that the larger the area of a small-scale family farm, the greater its economic sustainability. The productivity of these farms increases with their economic sustainability. The results also prove a negative relationship between the age of the farmer and the economic sustainability of their farm in all analysed countries. These trends were found in all analysed countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The results of the analyses support the conclusion that agricultural policy instruments aimed at increasing the economic sustainability of small family farms should lead to: land consolidation, a decrease in the age of farm owners through generational changes, and a decrease in employment in agriculture, which would lead to a reduction in labour input in the agricultural sector.

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Micro-economic analysis of farm restructuring in Central and Eastern Europe: an overview of major results

Agricultural Economics (Zemědělská ekonomika) ◽

10.17221/5302-agricecon ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 48 (No. 5) ◽

pp. 189-196

Author(s):

E. Mathijs

Keyword(s):

Economic Analysis ◽

Eastern Europe ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Central And Eastern Europe ◽

Family Farms ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Production Sector ◽

Economic Decisions ◽

Farm Operators ◽

The Eu

The aim of this paper is to summarize the results of the EU Phare ACE research project P97-8158-R, “Micro-economic analysis of farm restructuring in Central and Eastern Europe”, that tries to fill the gap of theoretical as well as empirical research into the implications of continuing and evolving farm restructuring in CEECs on the efficiency of the agricultural production sector and the development of rural areas by focusing on the economic decisions and perspectives of farm operators, asset owners and rural households. For this purpose, surveys among family farms and farm enterprises were carried out in 2000 in Albania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

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Governing the memories of communism in Central and Eastern Europe: policy instruments and social practices

European Politics and Society ◽

10.1080/23745118.2016.1269437 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Pascal Bonnard ◽

Cécile Jouhanneau

Keyword(s):

Eastern Europe ◽

Central And Eastern Europe ◽

Policy Instruments ◽

Social Practices

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Agrarian restructuring and gender – designing family farms in Central and Eastern Europe

Gender Place & Culture ◽

10.1080/09663690802155652 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 431-443 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Brigitte M. Holzner

Keyword(s):

Eastern Europe ◽

Central And Eastern Europe ◽

Family Farms ◽

And Gender

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Integrating aspect of economic development in Ukrainian agriculture

Ekonomika APK ◽

10.32317/2221-1055.202010038 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 312 (10) ◽

pp. 38-48

Author(s):

Inna Bezhenar ◽

Larisa Malik ◽

Andrii Shvets

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Agricultural Production ◽

Agricultural Sector ◽

Analytical Data ◽

The State ◽

Entrepreneurial Activity ◽

Small Scale ◽

Family Farms ◽

Agricultural Enterprises ◽

Business Entities

The purpose of the article is to determine the directions of integration processes in the development of entrepreneurial activity in the agricultural sector of the economy. Research methods. Using statistical and graphical methods, the state and trends of integration transformations of agricultural enterprises in Ukraine were assessed. Research results. The dynamics of changes in the number of agricultural enterprises in Ukraine during 2013-2019, their structure on the basis of legal status, scope and results of activities are analyzed and the relevant conclusions on the ways of development of integration processes in the agricultural sector are formed. The functioning of agrarian business entities of different sizes has been studied. The integration potential of small business entities in the agricultural sector has been identified. The dynamics of the main production indicators of small and micro enterprises is given, their share in the total volume of agricultural production is determined. Also, small forms of management due to integration and cooperative processes provide an opportunity to develop in rural areas, making financial contributions to local budgets, while large enterprises (agricultural holdings) usually have minimal impact on the development of rural economy and rural areas. The main segments of agricultural production (such as potatoes, vegetables, fruits and berries) in which households play a key role are identified. Priority areas for the development of personal farms have been identified, in particular, through the creation of family farms and their association in cooperatives, etc. The information base of the study is the scientific achievements of leading domestic and foreign scientists, analytical data of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine. On the basis of the obtained results the social and economic expediency of development of cooperative forms of management in the countryside and integration of small-scale agricultural producers is substantiated. Scientific novelty. It is proposed to turn personal peasant farms into family farms as components of integration formations in agrarian business. Practical significance. The state of business structures of the agricultural sector of the Ukrainian economy is assessed and the prospects and advantages of the development of integration formations and cooperation in the sustainable development of rural areas are outlined. Tabl.: 8. Figs.: 1. Refs.: 20.

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Management practices that influence the welfare of calves on small family farms

Journal of Dairy Research ◽

10.1017/s0022029920000539 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 87 (S1) ◽

pp. 93-98

Author(s):

Renata Relić ◽

Jože Starič ◽

Jožica Ježek

Keyword(s):

Survival Data ◽

Management Practices ◽

Small Scale ◽

Family Farms ◽

Calf Health ◽

New Born ◽

Small Family ◽

Review Management ◽

Hygienic Measures ◽

The Cost

AbstractIn this Research Reflection we review management practices in small family farms with less than 100 cows. Small farms represent the majority of farms in the EU and the world, and they are of great importance for the economy of a country. On cattle farms, the welfare of calves is of primary importance for the profitability of the herd, and poor management is one of the main factors influencing calf health and survival. Data on the risk factors for calf welfare issues in small-scale farms are limited. For this purpose, the literature data from six world countries were presented and compared, including Serbia and Slovenia where a survey related to the issue was carried out within the COST Action FA1308, DairyCare. Some practices within the following areas in calf management were considered: calving management, care for new-born calves, use of painful procedures, colostrum management, cow–calf separation, calf feeding, weaning, calf housing, and general monitoring. In each of the countries, the health and welfare of calves are threatened by some omissions in rearing practices and the major are related to the new-born calf management, the feeding and watering management, and the application of hygienic measures. Many farmers are well aware of the importance of proper calf rearing; others would need more incentive to improve calf management. Each country should pay attention to the education of farmers about the most common deficiencies in calf management.

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Did the first farmers of central and eastern Europe produce dairy foods?

Antiquity ◽

10.1017/s0003598x00115017 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 79 (306) ◽

pp. 882-894 ◽

Cited By ~ 91

Author(s):

Oliver E. Craig ◽

John Chapman ◽

Carl Heron ◽

Laura H. Willis ◽

László Bartosiewicz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Eastern Europe ◽

Central And Eastern Europe ◽

Domestic Animals ◽

Small Scale ◽

Faunal Remains ◽

Early Neolithic ◽

Secondary Products ◽

Dairy Foods ◽

Ceramic Vessels ◽

European Farming

Although the origins of domestic animals have been well-documented, it is unclear when livestock were first exploited for secondary products, such as milk. The analysis of remnant fats preserved in ceramic vessels from two agricultural sites in central and eastern Europe dating to the Early Neolithic (5900-5500 cal BC) are best explained by the presence of milk residues. On this basis, the authors suggest that dairying featured in early European farming economies. The evidence is evaluated in the light of analysis of faunal remains from this region to determine the scale of dairying. It is suggested that dairying—perhaps of sheep or goats—was initially practised on a small scale and was part of a broad mixed economy.

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