Agriculture, Analytics, Latvia, Markets and Companies
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Thursday, 28.03.2024, 17:57
Average size of agricultural holding in Latvia is increasing
The utilised
agricultural area (UAA) on average per holding grew by 20% (from 23.0 ha
in 2013 to 27.6 ha in 2016). In 2016, one agricultural holding employed on
average 2.3 persons, which is 9.5% more than in 2013.The largest farms
were located in Zemgale and Kurzeme, where one holding on avrage managed
35.7 ha and 33.6 ha of UAA, respectively.
Area of grain
per holding rose by 3.6 ha – from 24.7 ha in 2013 to 28.3 ha in
2016. Areas of potato plantations have grown as well – from 0.6 ha in 2013
to 0.9 ha in 2016, and areas of forage crops increased by 2.9 ha
reaching 17.2 ha on average per holding in 2016. Last year, sown areas of
rape reduced by 9.3 ha to 50.4 ha on average per holding.
In 2016, in
Latvia there were 69.9 thousand economically active agricultural holdings, which
were managing 1930.0 thousand ha of the UAA. Since 2013, the number of
economically active agricultural holdings has decreased by 11.9 thousand
or 14.5%, whereas UAA has increased by 52.3 thousand ha or 2.8%.
Out of the total
UAA, 1288.9 thousand ha or 66.8% were taken by arable land,
628.1 thousand ha or 32.5% – by meadows and pastures, and
6.9 thousand ha or 0.4% – by permanent crops.
Compared to
2013, last year the number of small holdings, which are managing less than
1 ha of UAA, reduced significantly – by 5.6 thousand. In 2016,
6.1 thousand agricultural holdings with UAA exceeding 50 ha managed
67.1% of the total UAA, which is 9.4% more than in 2013.
Agricultural holdings by
economic size
Standard output (SO) of
holding[i], thsd EUR |
Number of holdings, thsd |
Changes, % (2016/2013) |
Total SO, mln EUR |
Changes, % (2016/2013) |
||
2013 |
2016 |
2013 |
2016 |
|||
Total |
81.8 |
69.9 |
-14.5 |
990.0 |
1232.2 |
24.5 |
under 3.9 |
57.1 |
44.6 |
-21.9 |
64.6 |
52.1 |
-19.5 |
4.0–14.9 |
16.2 |
14.9 |
-8.0 |
119.4 |
114.7 |
-4.0 |
15.0–24.9 |
3.1 |
3.4 |
10.2 |
59.9 |
65.7 |
9.8 |
25.0–49.9 |
2.5 |
3.2 |
26.5 |
88.8 |
112.3 |
26.4 |
50.0–99.9 |
1.4 |
1.8 |
30.0 |
96.3 |
125.1 |
29.9 |
100.0–499.9 |
1.3 |
1.7 |
34.6 |
259.0 |
355.6 |
37.3 |
500.0 and
more |
0.2 |
0.3 |
38.3 |
301.9 |
406.7 |
34.7 |
Regardless the
fact that the number of small holdings (SO under EUR 14.9 thousand)
in Latvia is still high – 59.5 thousand or 85.1% of the total number of
holdings – it is reducing gradually. In 2016, the number of small holdings was
18.8% smaller than in 2013, and they were managing only 29.1% of the total UAA.
The total SO of small holdings diminished by 9.5% last year. The number of
large holdings (SO of EUR 100.0 thousand or more) rose by 35.2%,
compared to 2013, and these holdings managed 45.2% of the total UAA. The total
SO of the large holdings has risen by 35.9%, compared to 2013.
Compared to
2013, last year the average number of livestock in one holding breeding
livestock increased, nevertheless the number of such holdings dropped.
In 2016, one
agricultural holding breeding respective livestock on average had
18 cattle, 9 dairy cows, 31 pigs, 35 sheep, 7 goats
and 194 poultry.
Based on the
total SO, last year agricultural holdings were mainly engaged in field
cropping, dairying, mixed cropping, and livestock breeding. Field cropping
farms are utilising 52.0% of the total UAA. Compared to 2013, the number of
field cropping farms has dropped by 21.4%, whereas the total economic size
thereof has risen by 39.0%. The second most common farming type in Latvia is
dairying, however, compared to 2013, the number of holdings engaged in this
sector has declined by 21.6%. Last year, the total SO of dairying farms
constituted EUR 285.3 thousand, which is 3.7% more than in 2013.
Agricultural holdings by type
of farming
|
Number of holdings, thsd |
Changes, % (2016/2013) |
UAA, thsd ha |
Changes, % (2016/2013) |
Total SO, mln EUR |
Changes, % (2016/2013) |
|||
2013 |
2016 |
2013 |
2016 |
|
2013 |
2016 |
|
||
Total |
81.8 |
69.9 |
-14.5 |
1877.7 |
1930.0 |
2.8 |
990.0 |
1232.2 |
24.5 |
field
crops |
38.0 |
29.3 |
-22.9 |
974.6 |
1002.5 |
2.9 |
368.0 |
511.4 |
39.0 |
horticulture |
0.7 |
1.0 |
42.8 |
8.4 |
11.9 |
41.7 |
16.0 |
23.8 |
48.8 |
permanent
crops |
2.0 |
1.1 |
-44.0 |
9.3 |
5.9 |
-36.6 |
3.1 |
1.7 |
-45.2 |
mixed
cropping |
6.0 |
3.9 |
-36.2 |
26.4 |
45.0 |
70.5 |
14.5 |
29.5 |
103.4 |
dairying |
13.0 |
10.1 |
-18.6 |
391.2 |
339.2 |
-13.3 |
275.3 |
285.3 |
3.6 |
grazing
livestock (without dairying) |
4.9 |
7.0 |
42.7 |
116.5 |
175.0 |
50.2 |
32.9 |
56.2 |
70.8 |
granivores
(pigs and poultry) |
2.1 |
4.5 |
117.5 |
13.8 |
27.1 |
96.4 |
127.2 |
134.2 |
5.5 |
mixed
livestock |
2.8 |
2.5 |
-10.8 |
40.1 |
37.6 |
-6.2 |
17.5 |
19.8 |
13.1 |
mixed
cropping and livestock |
12.4 |
10.2 |
-14.5 |
297.4 |
285.8 |
2.8 |
135.6 |
170.3 |
25.6 |
[1] Standard output – a
standard indicator characterising the economic activity of agricultural
holding, i.e., value acquired from one hectare of agricultural crops or one
livestock head (unit), estimated at prices of the corresponding region and
expressed in euros. Total standard output characterises the economic size of a
holding in monetary terms.