The comparative analysis of Lithuanian farms economic performance in the context of selected EU countries

Vida Dabkienė

Abstract: The aim of the paper was to present the economic performance of Lithuanian farms in the context of the selected European Union (EU) countries. The analysis was conducted using the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) data on average over the period 2015–2018. The results are presented at the EU country-level, both for the whole sample and disaggregated by the farming system, namely, specialist cereals, oilseeds and protein crops (COP) and specialist milk systems. Six Central East European Countries (CEECs), Germany and France were chosen as benchmarking countries. The EU-28 average as a benchmark value also was considered. The comparative analysis of farms economic performance is based on farm size indicators, productivity and profitability ratios. According to the research results, Lithuanian agricultural sector is characterized as having the lowest level of land productivity and the highest level of profit margin. The Lithuanian COP farms in the context of the selected CEECs can be described as having a moderate level of economic performance and still lag far behind as compared with the countries-leaders for cereal production. Lithuanian specialist milk farms indicate a low economic performance concerning production level and productivity accompanied by a profitability and profit margin above the leading European producers for milk.

Keywords: agriculture; European Union countries; specialist cereals, oilseeds and protein crops system; specialist milk system

Date published: 2021-12-15