estonian agriculture, rural economy and food industry

4.
TABLE 1.
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
(Source: ESO)
TABLE 2.
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
Cereals
397000
418113
423104
375100
319505
304342
288780
326641
354057
321029
329347
Cereals
957,3
939,2
598,1
810,7
510,4
513,5
629,2
650,5
576,2
401,6
696,6
hanges in total crop area
When compared to 1990, the present total crop
area stands at a decrease of 27%. The relative area
used for cereals and feed crops has decreased,
while areas used for oil crops and legumes have
increased. The proportion of unused and uncultivated
land has also increased. Crop fields have
decreased due to the slow pace of land and agricultural
reform and also the economic difficulties
encountered by farms and agricultural enterprises
as a result of low market prices for agricultural
products. Many agricultural producers are not able
to acquire the needed new machinery due to the
lack of funds (Tables 1 and 2).
Increasing the cereals production
is on the agenda
Over the last ten years cereal production in Estonia
has decreased by 20%. This is chiefly thought to be
for two reasons. First, the domestic market price of
cereals has decreased as a result of cheap import
cereals, on which the importing countries have
paid direct or indirect export subsidies. The second
reason for Estonia’s decreased production is its
relatively small use of fertilisers and herbicides.
Legumes
100
100
400
400
700
3700
5800
8700
6367
2922
3892
Total crop area (ha)
Oil
crops
2600
2328
3808
1592
2840
6185
8739
8223
17584
24262
28 821
Vegetables
5200
5700
5100
4600
4400
4600
4200
3900
4200
3871
3 789
Total crop yield ('000 t)
Legumes
0,2
0,2
0,4
0,7
1,1
6,3
13,8
17,0
8,3
3,1
6,6
Oil crops
1,1
0,8
1,5
0,8
2,2
7,0
10,0
9,6
17,9
29,8
38,7
Potatoes
45500
52200
46300
42600
39900
36900
35300
35200
32600
31124
30 865
Vegetables
105,0
120,5
78,4
70,0
78,0
56,8
54,7
52,3
50,2
44,7
53,3
Feed
crops
665300
635200
627000
632200
566900
493900
515500
480800
446033
435191
412 797
Potatoes
618,1
592,1
669,1
538,6
563,0
537,4
500,2
437,5
316,7
403,7
471,7
Additionally, weather conditions in Estonia in
1998 and 1999 were unfavourable toward cereal
production.
Of cereals, the crop area for rye production has
decreased the most (60%). During the same time,
however, buckwheat production has begun in
Estonia, of which the total area is constantly
increasing. Buckwheat is a good honey plant and is
therefore preferred by beekeepers. Diet-food producers
have also started to value buckwheat. (Table
3, Figure 1).
According to expert assessment, Estonia’s
domestic market need for grains is 700,000 tonnes.
This value is inclusive of 152,000 tonnes of cereals
needed to feed 1.4 million people: 60,000 tonnes
of rye and 92,000 tonnes of wheat. In addition to
baking flour, 28,000 tonnes of cereals are needed
for groats and flakes. The feed crop demand, in
consideration of the existing number of animals is
450,000 tonnes.
Production of rye and wheat, the main cereals,
has become considerably smaller than is needed for
self sufficiency; importation of bread cereals has
therefore become necessary.
In 2000, Estonia joined the International
Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of
Plants (UPOV); as of 24 September 2000 Estonia is
the 46th member of UPOV.
In 2000, nine certificates for protected varieties
were issued to the Jõgeva Plant Breeding Institute.
There are currently a total of 36 protected varieties
in Estonia. Overall, 108 new varieties were added
to the Variety List in 2000.
Large agricultural enterprises are
efficient cereal growers
Grain production is the main activity in large farms
and agricultural enterprises. As can be seen from
Figure 1, large agricultural enterprises with more
than 100 ha of land produce 59% of all grains.
Small farms, where land used for cereal crops is up
to 10 ha, grow only 8% of Estonia’s grains.
The results of 108 test holdings primarily
engaged in plant production were analysed by the
Jäneda Training and Advisory Centre of the
Ministry of Agriculture in 1999. The average size
of the test holdings was 125 ha of arable land, of
which 75 ha were currently producing grains. The
average number of employees was 2.4 per farm;
the average area of land per employee was 51.8 ha
of arable land and 31.1 ha of crop. Labour use was
the most efficient in enterprises of 100-400 ha:
91.5 and 54.6 ha per labour unit.
Average cereal yields in test holdings were
1552 kg/ha in 1999 and 1924 kg/ha in 2000.
Of all grains produced, an average of 96.3%
was sold. In enterprises with 100-400 ha of producing
crop lands, 98% of the grains were sold; in
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