GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY ADVANTAGES OF SPECIALIZED FARMS IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES IN 2005–2013

Abstract

The paper makes a comparison between specialized small (below 5 ha UAA) and non-small farms (5 ha and over) and non-specialized farms with particular respect to the EU-10 (Central and Eastern European – CEECs) countries. It analyses the structure and growth of farms in terms of 10 types of their specializations, performance, labour and land use between 2005 and 2013. The aim of the paper is to point out which type of specialized farms demonstrate advantages in terms of production growth and productivity when compared with non-specialized farms. It has been concluded that in area, labour and total productivity both small and non-small specialized farms of EU-10 have achieved higher growth in compare with related farm categories of EU-27. Within EU-10 number of specialized farms has declined less than the number of non- -specialized ones. Average farm output of specialized farms (both small and non-small) have exceeded that of non-specialized farms both in 2005 and 2013. The growth and productivity of specialized farms varied according to countries and according to farm types. Comparing specialized farms to non-specialized ones within EU-10 non-specialized small farms have advantage in growth of area and labour productivity while non-small non-specialized farms have achieved higher growth in labour productivity.