Stand und Probleme der Privatisierung der litauischen Landwirtschaft

Abstract

In the past within the scope of the association of states of the former USSR the agriculture of Lithunia had reached a remarkable level. In the form of raw material or finished products. Lithunia delivered a large part of its agricultural produce to Russia and other parts of the USSR. The major part of it was produced by socialist large-scale enterprises -Kolkhoses and Sovkhoses- although between 25 and 65 per cent of the total amount of single products had already some from privately cultivated land and privately raised livestock. As investigations in the rayon of Rakai show privatization in the Lithunian agriculture is extremely complicated. Due to insufficient basic legal conditions, the lack of a rural loan system, retail prices fixed by the Government as well as a lack of structural readjustment the successor enterprises of Kolkhoses and Sovkhoses are extremely instable. Newly founded family farms do not have sufficient land, capital and knowhow. As a consequence of the inadequate restructuring of enterprises and the permanent lack of means of production agricultural production in Lithunia is heavily declining thus jeopardizing self-supply. In order to obtain sound enterprises with a long-term perspective it is of prime importance to solve the following problems: (1) Creation of a clear legal basis, in particular establishment of landownership; (2) Promotion of collective forms of purchase of agricultural means of production and sale of produce;(3) Development of a rural loan system; (4) Training and consultancy in business management; (5) Reorientation to the Russian market. In addition to the promotion of agricultural production, it is of prime importance to develop the tourist industry and to establish industrial enterprises in order to achieve a social and economic recovery of the country.