estonian agriculture, rural economy and food industry

More documents

Recommendations

Info

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 14
4. smaller enterprises (up to 40 ha), 93.1% of grains were sold and the remainders were used for the farms' own needs. The marketing opportunities are better for large enterprises, as the production quantities are larger. The average price paid to producers for grains was 1.42 EEK/kg. Analysis carried out by researchers of the Estonian Research Institute of Agriculture shows that grain production in Estonia is profitable at the average producer prices (1500-1700 EEK/t) if the yield is at least 4000 kg/ha. On smaller farms, production costs can be cut by cooperating in machine use or purchasing second-hand machinery. Estonia covers its food potato demand Potatoes are grown in Estonia mainly on small farms and private residences, and to a lesser extent, in larger agricultural enterprises (Table 4). The area used for potato production has decreased in recent years. Total area for potato production in the year 2000 was 30,900 ha. The total yield was 471,661 tonnes with an average yield of 15.6 t/ha. In the year 2001, the total area for potato production decreased with a yield of 345,230 tonnes; the average yield was 16.1 t/ha. The food potato demand (120,000 – 140,000 tonnes) is fully met. The seed demand for 30,000 ha is approximately 140,000 tonnes; industrial potato demand is 10,000 tonnes, and 100,000 tonnes of potatoes is needed for starch production. Oil crop and flax production are developing The crop area used for oil crops in 1990 was 1000 ha; in 1999 it was at 24,100 ha. A vegetable oil plant was commissioned in Estonia in 1999, which improved the marketing opportunities of rapeseed and turnip rapeseed. A portion of both oil seeds was exported to Finland and Denmark. While in 1990 flax was grown mostly for fibre production, more recently the focus has been toward oil flax production. Fibre flax production in Estonia is almost non-existent, which is primarily because Estonian flax cannot compete on the market with state subsidised flax from other European countries, Latvia, and Lithuania. Flax was sown in 2000 on 325 ha, of which 275 ha was oil flax, and only 50 ha was fibre flax. Domestic horticultural products are preferred in Estonia The development of Estonian horticulture has been influenced by the population's preference for domestic quality fruits, vegetables, and berries. Interest from foreign countries in Estonian products has also increased. Almost one-half of all horticultural products produced in Estonia are grown in small gardens. FIGURE 1. 12% TABLE 3. 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Area under cereals (%) in size groups of agricultural enterprises in 2000 (ha) 25% (Source: ESO) Rye 65 900 58 500 59 200 61 900 21 700 32 000 31 600 34 300 38 800 24 258 28 937 22% 8% Winter wheat 21 200 17 200 26 800 32 700 15 400 13 400 17 200 17 800 19 400 13 052 21 736 10% 23% Up to 10 ha 10,1–50 50,1–100 100,1–300 300,1–500 Over 500 ha Source: Review 2000/2001 Agriculture and rural life Areas under grains (ha) Summer wheat 4 800 7 000 16 700 17 600 18 800 25 200 28 700 33 100 47 400 53 062 47 233 Barley 263 700 284 800 268 200 218 100 217 900 186 500 148 000 165 700 166 800 153 955 165 672 Oats 33 400 42 300 41 700 35 700 36 100 38 500 49 000 54 400 61 000 60 976 53 345 Buckw heat 0 13 4 0 5 42 80 41 57 63 493 Mixed crops 8 000 8 300 10 500 9 100 9 600 8 700 14 200 21 300 20 600 15 663 12 531 15
Page 1 and 2: ESTONIAN AGRICULTURE, RURAL ECONOMY
Page 3 and 4: Contents 1. What Estonia is like 3
Page 5 and 6: 1. What Estonia is like Estonia is
Page 7 and 8: 1. Climate • Estonia’s climate
Page 9 and 10: 2. Reforms have changed Estonian ag
Page 11 and 12: 2. rural inhabitants in agriculture
Page 13 and 14: 3. Trade is largest with European U
Page 15: 4. Economic results of agriculture
Page 19 and 20: 4. in ownership relations, a situat
Page 21 and 22: 5. Young people are interested in a
Page 23 and 24: 5. forestry, and processing of agri
Page 25 and 26: 6. Forests are an important natural
Page 27 and 28: 7. Fishing is an important industry
Page 29 and 30: 8. Food industry yields a quarter o
Page 31 and 32: 8. Concentration The concentration
Page 33 and 34: 9. Measures taken to assure food sa
Page 35 and 36: 10. Rural enterprise is developing
Page 37 and 38: 10. ments, development of alternati
Page 39 and 40: 11. Different landscape types have
Page 41 and 42: 11. tion areas. The areas belonging
Page 43 and 44: MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE STRUCTURE A

estonian agriculture, rural economy and food industry

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?