Farmers’ cooperative in the context of economic transformations in Lithuania

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Ekonominis vystymasis; Tvarus vystymasis; Ūkininkų kooperatyvas; Ūkininkų ūkiai; Žemdirbystė; Agriculture; Economic development; Farmers cooperative; Farmers farms; Sustainable development.

ENLithuania farmers’ farms are amongst the most important producers of agricultural products in Lithuania. During the analyzed period of 2005-2014 small farms are dominating in the structure of agricultural products. Because of the rising standard of living and increasing need of quantity and quality of agricultural products, including food, both at global and regional level, attention should be given to the growth of the agricultural production productivity. The aim of the study: to analyze the role of farmers’ cooperatives in the context of economic transformation in Lithuania. Objectives of the study: to characterize the economic transformations in Lithuania; to discuss the changes of farmers’ cooperative importance in country economy development, as a smart, sustainable and inclusive growth; to characterize the farmers’ cooperative as one of ways for the modernization of agriculture sector. The analysis shows that economic transformation in Lithuania is related to the restitution of the private property rights in 1990, when the farmers’ farms began to settle. Planned economy system and its structure collapsed. Collective farms in the agricultural sector were gradually completely eliminated. The number of small farmers’ farms increased in the period of 2005-2014 by 12.1% and their agricultural land increased by 29%. The level of education of young farmers is very poor and can cause problems by implementing innovations, new organizational forms of different activities and services. The investigation reveals that in Lithuania the level of farmers’ farms cooperation is small and the market share is low, unlike in Europe and the world's developed countries such as Japan, the United States of America (USA). [From the publication]