Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Lithuanian Organic Agriculture in the Context of European Union
http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/58352
The organic crop area structure and its dynamics in Lithuania from 2008 to 2012 are presented
in figures 11, 12, 13 and 14. The main crop by the occupied area covered soil productivity
exhausting cereals (spica cereals). They covered 49% in 2008 (Figure 11) and slightly decreased
till 46% in 2010 (Figure 12). In 2011 cereals covered only 36% (Figure 13) and it was positive
turn concerning the soil productivity preservation. The decrease of cereals in the crop structure
in 2011 mostly was influenced by the drastically increase of medicinal and potherbs area in
the crop structure from 0.55% in 2008 to 5.01% in 2010 and to 15.94% in 2011. The reason of
such rapid increase in organic medicinal herb area could be 3 times higher subsides than for
organic cereals (see table 6). However, difficulties in growing and processing of medicinal and
potherbs as well still limited local market for medicinal and potherbs because of much higher
price turn its area back to 4.12% in 2012 (Figure 14). Parallel area of the cereals in organic crop
structure increased back till 43%. Vegetables are still not common in Lithuanian organic
agriculture with range of 0.38%-0.30% in crop structure; at the European level organically
grown vegetables unfortunately take analogous position (Figure 15). The permanent crops in
Lithuania have tendency to decrease from 4.3% (2008) to 3.26% (2012) as orchards (from 1.02%
to 0.74%) and small-fruit plants (from 3.28% to 2.52%) while in Europe organic permanent
crops in 2009 increased to 11% (Figure 15) compared with 2008 (Figure 16).
Ponds
4.05%
Crops of inadequate
plant density
0.18%
Sideral and black
fallows 1.27%
Small-fruit plants
3.28%
Leguminous-spica
cereal mixtures
7.47%
Cereals (spica)
48.92%
Medicinal and
potherbs
0.55%
Perennial grasses
20.80%
Vegetables
(including potatoes
and fodder beets)
0.38%
Orchards
1.02%
Leguminous cereals
12.08%
2008
Figure 11.
Organic crop area structure including fallows and ponds in Lithuania 2008. Source: Ekoagros; www.ekoa‐
gros.lt
The next very important component in the organic crop structure is permanent grassland. At
the European level organic permanent grassland takes fine 46% (Figure 15) while in Lithuania
26% in 2012 (Figure 14) that show slow but continuously increase from 20.8% in 2008 (Figure
11 and 16). To control organic agriculture as producing system it was introduced requirements
of minimal plant density in the crop which is much lower than optimal crop density. Therefore,
crops of inadequate plant density cover very low area - only 0.18% - 0.48% (Figure 11-13) and
come to praxis exceptionally because of very unfavourable meteorological conditions of the
year or season. It helps to prevent organic agriculture from unfair farming as well subsidies
for such areas are suspended.
