10 Years of EU Membership: Diverging Performances in New Member States Agriculture

Author(s): Attila Jambor,Miklós SOMAI,Sándor Kovács / Language(s): English / Issue: 05/2016

More than 10 years have passed since the 2004 accession round to the European Union. The tenth anniversary provides a good opportunity for stocktaking and assessing the agricultural developments of the New Member States (NMS) in light of the latest data available. The aim of this paper is to assess agricultural performances of NMS and to identify the winners and losers of accession in this regard. By ranking individual country performances using Parallel Factor Analysis (PARAFAC), our results suggest that Poland and the Baltic countries can be treated as the winners of EU accession in agriculture, while Romania and Bulgaria proved to have used their potentials to the least. Results also suggest that focusing on high value added agri-food products proved to be a good strategy to reach development in the agriculture sector, while those countries concentrating on the production of agri-food raw materials turned out to be lagged behind.

5. MEĐUNARODNI ZNANSTVENI SIMPOZIJ GOSPODARSTVO ISTOČNE HRVATSKE – VIZIJA I RAZVOJ

Author(s): Katica Križanovic / Language(s): Croatian / Issue: 2/2016

A Dairy Cooperative in the Making: History, Ethnicity and Local Culture in an Economic Enterprise

Author(s): Árpád Töhötöm Szabó / Language(s): English / Issue: 3/2015

The paper presents the case study of a newly launched – or re-launched – dairy cooperative in Szeklerland, and investigates how different layers of local traditions, new views of rurality and new roles of peasantry, as well as ethnic struggles interplayed in its formation and functioning. While the cooperative can primarily be perceived as a local economic institution, its analysis offers the possibility to shed a new light on the connections between different levels in agri-businesses and on the different, seemingly non-economic factors acting from the background. The cooperative was launched in 2012 within a favorable framework of other local, ethnic initiatives, but it is seen as the successor of a successful cooperative that was nationalized in 1948. Two strong historical experiences shaped its launching: the successes of cooperatives before WWII and the failures and negative impacts of cooperatives during socialism. The investigation can unfold the ways how these discursive strategies, the emergence of new rural elite, the restructuring of agriculture, the idea of autonomy and a sort of ethnic economy gave impetus or impeded the functioning of the cooperative and its shift from subsistence to market.

A Framework for Assessing Sustainability of Farming Enterprises

Author(s): Hrabrin Bachev / Language(s): English / Issue: 1 (39)/2016

This paper gives an answer to two important questions: „what is sustainability of farming enterprises?“ and „how to assess sustainability of farming enterprises?“. First, major shortcomings of dominating approaches for assessment of sustainability of farming enterprises like individual and family farms, agro- companies, agro- cooperatives etc. are summarized, and the needs for improvement underlined. Second, evolution of the “concept” and the major approaches for assessing sustainability of farming enterprises is discussed. More adequate definition of the farming enterprise’s sustainability is suggested as ability of a particular form to maintain its governance, economic, social and ecological functions in a long term. Finally, a specific for the conditions of Bulgarian agriculture framework for assessing sustainability of farming enterprises is proposed. The later includes a system of appropriate principles, criteria, indicators, and reference values for evaluating governance, economic, ecological and social aspects of farming enterprise’s sustainability as well as an approach for their integration and interpretation. The ultimate objective of this study is to work out an effective framework for assessing sustainability of farming enterprises of different type in the specific economic, institutional and natural environment, assist farm and agro- business management and strategies, and agricultural policies and forms of public intervention in agrarian sector.

A két világháború közti román földbirtokrendezés

Author(s): Ákos Bartha / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 06/2012

This paper anatomizes the Romanian agrarian reform based on the law of July 1921. The Romanian lordship-policy was highly represented in the public life of Romania and Hungary, as well as in the intergovernmental relationships between these countries after 1921. Despite these, the complex picture of the reform was not completely represented, as the main focus was on Transylvania in Hungary. With a short glance on the historical background, the essay reviews the realisation of national, social, economical and political aspects in different regions. After World War II, the communist regimes of both countries avoided honest dialogue. For this very reason we intend to provide a new interpretation of the motivations and the procedure of the managements, involving sources from The National Archives of Hungary, other contemporary writings, periodicals and international studies. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the variety of arguments, comments and the most important results of the agrarian reform.

A logistics model of sustainable food supply of the region

Author(s): Igor Vorotnikov,Irina Sukhanova,Larisa Tretyak,Sergey Baskakov / Language(s): English / Issue: 3-4/2017

Introduction. The problem of sustainable food supply is connected with the optimisation of the distribution of food flows and determined by the quantity of food in terms of per capita consumption, energy value and availability of nutrients. The purpose of the article is to develop a logistics model of sustainable food supply in the region and test it on the example of Saratov region of Russia. Methods. In the process of economic-mathematical modelling, the authors used econometric and logistics methods. Results. The article describes the authors’ approach to building local food systems. A two-level model of demand for food products was substantiated. The conducted calculations of the indicators of sustainability of the local food systems of Saratov region for the most important types of food products show that three local food systems centred in towns of Kalininsk, Novouzensk and Ershov are fully food self-sufficient. The local food systems of the towns of Volsk, Balashov and Balakovo have difficulties in the matters of self-sufficiency in meat products; and the local food systems of the city of Saratov and the town of Engels have to import meat and milk in order to have quality and sustainable provision of the population with such products. Conclusions. The use of the logistics approach allows us to develop a universal algorithm for the assessment of the overall sustainability of food supply of the region, consider the impact of transportation costs on food consumption by the population, substantiate the rational logistics and delivery routes of agricultural production for its further processing, which will increase the overall sustainability of food supply in a particular region

A napszámtól a bérmunkáig: a mezőgazdasági idénymunka változó formái egy kelet-magyarországi példán keresztül

Author(s): András Vigvári / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 1/2016

Through a community study carried out in a settlement in Eastern Hungary, my study aims to present the integrating role of various agricultural part-time works in local societies. This paper explores the way in which different agricultural factory forms and employer-employee relationships influence the structural and ethnical layering in local societies, as well as the forms of integration they offer to members of local societies. My case study aims to shed light on the way ongoing macro-social processes shape Hungarian rural areas and, in particular, on the way they transform social and ethnical relations in local societies.

A SOCIAL MARKETING FRAMEWORK FOR INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION: THE CASE OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION IN INDIA

Author(s): SHUBHOMOY BANERJEE,Vanita Yadav,SOUMI CHATTERJEE BANERJEE / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2016

Agriculture is the mainstay in developing economies and is a major source of livelihood for a large portion of the world’s population. The field of agriculture and agribusiness has moved towards diversification, commercialization and sustainability. There is a crying need to protect the environment while improving global food security and building social capital in rural areas. As a result, it has become significant that new technologies and innovations in agriculture be disseminated to farmers so that they gain knowledge about innovations while ensuring their use in the ways originally intended. Agricultural Extension has an important role to play in this changing scenario of agriculture, business and policy. The objective of the paper is to propose a framework for new technology adoption in the context of agricultural extension using the lens of the theory of planned behavior and concepts of social marketing. The paper first presents a review of literature on the Training and Visit System and the Private system of agricultural extension and uncovers its drawbacks. As a potential solution to the existing inefficient systems, a social marketing framework for new technology adoption in agricultural extension is proposed using a case study of Agricultural Technology Management Agency in India. Findings from the case suggest that inclusion of a marketing component along with the existing educational approach to extension is likely to increase adoption of new technology and helps farmers overcome factors like input or market unavailability. It also helps in need based targeting rather than adopting a one-size fits all approach.

Actual Aspects of Cadaster Relations in the Monitoring System of Land and Rural Areas

Author(s): Aksana A. TSARENKO,Irina V. SCHMIDT*,Vladimir A. TARBAEV / Language(s): English / Issue: 1(17)/2017

The article is devoted to topical issues of land cadastral relations in the organization of the system of lands and rural areas monitoring. It presents a new model developed by the authors of the management system of lands and rural areas monitoring in the sphere of cadastral relations. The study is based on the methods of scientific research: systemic, geoinformational and statistical method. The modern complex approach to managing monitoring measures, suggested by the authors, will favor the right development of the conception of conducting monitoring. Strategic monitoring model makes it possible to organize work at a high technological level and moreover to achieve key results avoiding many problems and mistakes. The model is expressed through an organizational and strategic scheme-model that promotes effective work management and reliable data collection. The article also examines the issues influencing the development of the whole conception of the state and political system in the field of land cadastre relations. Solutions to the problems of technological and methodological support of the formation of modern interactive databases and the application of GIS technology, developed by the authors, give an opportunity to conduct deep integrated strategic monitoring of lands and rural areas in the sphere of cadastral relations.

Advancing the convergence and integration of rural border areas

Author(s): Mykhailo Hazuda,Victoriya Gotra,Lesya Hazuda / Language(s): English / Issue: 11-12/2016

The article touches upon the need for greater convergence and integration in order to provide economic converge and alignment of regional economies, in particular in rural border areas, which is based primarily on effective functioning of the priority areas and implementation of economic activities. The authors have conducted a rating evaluation in terms of GDP (GRP) per capita of the western border regions of Ukraine (Transcarpathian, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv and Chernivtsi regions) and border areas of the neighbouring countries (Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary). The study confirms that the border areas of Slovakia, Hungary and Poland differ favourably from the studied regions of other neighbouring Romania, and especially Ukraine, in terms of socio-economic development. The authors have studied European approaches to forming agricultural policy and sustainable rural development, consideration of which will facilitate the deepening revitalisation processes convergence and integration of rural border areas of Ukraine, as well as the competitiveness of Ukrainian agricultural enterprises and their access to the European market. EU Common Agricultural Policy towards 2020 and the Strategy of Development of the Agricultural Sector for the Period until 2020 adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine were considered in the research in order to provide effective mechanism of sectoral and territorial integration of the rural border areas. The conclusions have been formulated as follows. Ensuring convergence and integration of regional economic systems in accordance with the level the socio-economic development and compliance with environmental tenets of sustainable development is conditioned by the further integration into the European structures. In the long term, the actual task for Ukraine is to develop and adopt a new strategy of interregional and international cooperation, including integration and cooperation between the western border regions of Ukraine and the neighbouring countries, such as Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Romania, in the field of socio-economic activities and environmental protection. Such an approach will lead to finding solutions to the problems of agricultural development as an important component of sustainable rural development. Convergence and integration of rural border areas will help to build a sustainable living environment with further enhancement of the local population well-being and prosperity.

AGRARIAN ENTERPRISES – A NEW MANIFESTATION OF SOCIAL FARMING

Author(s): Radka Nenova / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2014

The importance of the social-economic sector has increased regardingboth the European and the national economy. Its future development andimprovement is among the priorities of the EU’s common policy. Someaspects of the social economy which are related to the characterisation of theconcept of social enterprise, its regulations and conditions for its functioningrepresent a topic for discussion and are a subject of scientific interest in thispaper.The study focuses on the possibility of combining some of the featuresof social enterprises with those of conventional farms. As a result, a model hasbeen developed for the operation of socially-oriented agrarian enterprises inBulgaria.

AGRICULTURALRESOURCES ALLOCATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Author(s): BIONDO Alessio Emanuele,BONAVENTURA Luigi / Language(s): English / Issue: 2(10)/2014

This paper shows the direct linkage existing between the environmental sustainability and the diffusion of organic agriculture. The reason is that the environmental impact of organic agriculture is different and somehow less polluting than industrial (let us say, traditional) one. Moreover, the former delivers also healthier food, according to part of the literature. Thus, seeking for sustainability, the policy-maker may find easier to influence the allocation of natural resources in favour of the organic cultivation as an instrument to care Nature. In order to claim this rationale, a model of resource allocation is presented and the golden rule derived. The paper finally shows that organic agriculture generates a global positive externality, which implicitly measures the relevance of the balancing intervention on resources allocation.

Agriculture Growth after 30 Years of Renovation – Necessity for a New Thought on Rice Cultivated Land for Exports and Food Security

Author(s): Pham Quang Dieu / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2016

Over the past 30 years of renovation, Vietnam’s agriculture has grown sharply in the first phase, agro-product exports have brought about a substantial source of foreign currencies and the agricultural sector has become an important basis for the industrialization economy. However, the agricultural economic structure has been slowed down gradually and there have been signals of slowdown in both speed and growth sustainability, the quality of agricultural development has exposed more shortcomings regarding the structure, competitive capacity and product quality. Over the past 30 years, the rice sector has grown sharply in quantity and has become a pillar not only for the agriculture and rural sector, but also for the whole economy to be secured for the industrialization and integration. The growth in rice production has enabled Vietnam to become a rice export power. However, the perspective on sustaining a constant rice production to ensure the food security or bulk exports may have to pay a price regarding the more expensive opportunity cost when a large area of land needs to be used for rice production. The calculation on transferring a part of the land resource as well as an open policy on the rural land will create a new motivation for agriculture and rural development. Nonetheless, there must be strategic calculation on the emerging of food demand from China as well as unofficial trade forms (gray-trade forms) to work out effective policies and institutions.

Agritourism and local economic development in South Africa

Author(s): Christian Rogerson,Jayne M. Rogerson / Language(s): English / Issue: 26/2014

The role of tourism for local economic development (LED) is a topicof critical importance for geographers. In the case of South Africa tourismis a priority sector for national economic development. The significance of researchissues around tourism and LED is underlined by the ‘developmental’ mandateof local governments. Although tourism has received attention in a growingbody of LED writings on South Africa issues around agritourism so far have beenoverlooked. Agritourism represents an evolving form of rural tourism which istargeted at mainly urban consumers. Against the background of a review of internationalscholarship on agritourism this article explores its potential implicationsfor LED planning in South Africa. A national audit of agritourism is presentedwhich shows its uneven geographical distribution. Agritourism is of special significancefor small town economic development in South Africa’s intermediate tourismspaces. Policy suggestions are offered for strengthening agritourism as a driverfor LED in South Africa.

AGRO ECOLOGICAL PARTICULARITIES OF MOUNTAIN-MEADOW LANDSCAPES OF SOUTH-EAST SLOPE OF MAIN CAUCASIAN RANGE

Author(s): Ilham Ildirim Mardanov / Language(s): English / Issue: 7/2010

The Disadvantage natural processes, occurring in high-mountainous zone, are reflected on physical-chemical and, consequently, agro production characteristic of soils of alpine and sub alpine meadow. Herewith exists differences of soils on agro production particularity and the other processes, with them bound. In this work are considered natural factors, influencing upon such differences and are presented some way of the achievement of the ecological balance in miscellaneous degree broken lands and way of the realization of natural defence action.

Agroturystyka jako czynnik rozwoju obszarów wiejskich w Polsce po 1989 roku

Author(s): Jaroslaw Koral / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 3/2016

Agritourism is a form of tourism that has recently undergone quite a fast development. Statistics show a dynamic increase in the number of holiday farms. An increasing need for holidays spent far away from big cities, in peace and quiet, in close contact with nature and in a family atmosphere contributes to the growth of this form of tourism which attracts more and more people every year. Development of agritourism opens up new possibilities of using rural space, agricultural buildings and local infrastructure. Additionally, agritourism is an important factor in fostering countryside development, especially with respect to places located far from metropolitan areas. Agritourism is an important form of countryside economic development.

Agroturystyka jako dodatkowe źródło dochodu dla rolników województwa zachodniopomorskiego – wybrane wyniki badań własnych

Author(s): Bartosz Mickiewicz / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 24/2015

The article analyzes the agritourism activities of farmers in Western Pomerania in order to obtain additional income, and knowledge of personal motives and conditions for the start of their business. In studies there was decided to analyze which factors were the most important for creation of agritourism and how farmers evaluate that type of activity in terms of profitability. The studies were made in Western Pomerania in 2014 on group of 415 respondents – farmers engaged in agrotourism activities. The research shows that in some cases, income from agritourism activity are bigger than income from agricultural production. More than 1/4 respondents declared that the profitability of their farms increased a lot due to agritourism activity.

Agroturystyka szansą na poprawę warunków życia mieszkańców wsi w regionach o rozdrobnionym rolnictwie

Author(s): Sylwester Makarski / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 16/2013

The purpose of this article is to present the results of studies on the search for alternative sources of income for the rural population in regions with average size farms which differs in minus in relation to the national average. In these areas agriculture is becoming increasingly less significant source of obtaining personal income because the scale of output volume does not allow the commodity nature, but only forms the basis of self-supply. In this situation, it appears extremely urgent to take actions associated with agriculture, allowing for the use of unnecessary labor surpluses and the material and technical base of rural households, leading consequently to the improvement of living conditions of its inhabitants. As one of the optimal forms of such activity was considered more dynamic than previously development of agro-tourism. In order to know the opinion of rural residents about the current state, the level of acceptance and perspectives of the development of tourism in 2010 have been taken the research using questionnaire interview among 96 owners of tourist farms, operating in 30 rural and urban-rural areas in the Subcarpathian province. The results were analyzed after ordering them according to personal characteristics such as age and education of tourism farm owners. These formed the basis for predictive approach to rural tourism as one of the alternative sources of income for rural inhabitants.

Aktywność turystyczna właścicieli gospodarstw agroturystycznych

Author(s): Magdalena Pruszczynska,Marlena Prochorowicz / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 27/2016

Rural tourism and agrotourism is perceived in Poland as important branch of economic activities not only in local scale but also national but even international. The owners of bed and breakfast farms lead services in the majority for the inhabitants of small cities and of large metropolises. Often they entertain also tourists from abroad, which they arrive to rest quietness and to consume regional products and local. Authors on the example of the community of Jan, introduced agrotouristic activity, attractions touristic communities, the meaning of agrotourism for rural areas and touristic activity guests.

Allelopatia – czy rośliny potrafią się komunikować?

Author(s): Tomasz Kopczewski / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 3/2014

Is communication the exclusive attribute of animals? It turns out that it is not. Mechanisms of signal transduction also exist in the world of plants. What’s more, these signals can be exchanged not only between plants but also between plants and microorganisms. Biochemical interactions in which one organism secretes compounds negatively or positively influencing the growth and development of another organism, are called allelopathy and the compounds – allelochemicals. They play a significant role in ecological interactions between organisms, which gives the possibility to apply allelochemicals in agricultural practice, e.g. in biological methods of dealing with weeds. This paper describes the characteristics of allelochemicals as well as the possibilities of their practical application in modern agriculture.