The publication “Agricultural and Food Sector in Lithuania 2014” is the sixteenth edition of the annual publications by the Lithuanian Institute of Agrarian Economics (LIAE). This analytical economic survey of agriculture, processing industry and fisheries was prepared referring to the statistical information, accountability data of companies, and the findings of research conducted by the LIAE staff.
The year 2014, full of ordeals, changes and challenges, was complicated for Lithuania’s agriculture and food sector. A decline in agricultural product purchase prices resulted in a drop of gross output (at current prices) by 7.7%. Export of agricultural and food products also went down, even though export in products of Lithuanian origin in 2014 was by 0.7% higher as compared to 2013. Balance of foreign trade in agricultural and food products has been positive since 2004. In 2014, it was 1.8 times higher than in 2010 and amounted to EUR 963 million. National agricultural development was further encouraged by the European Union (EU) and national budget support. Due to delay in funding of the 2014-2020 period measures, the amount of funds allocated for 2014 agricultural direct and investment support, intervention and other market regulation measures was lower by 6.5% than 2013.
The publication provides the five-year period variations in the agricultural and food sector development indicators, special attention focusing on the events and outcomes in 2014, except a review “Achievements of the agricultural and agri-food sector in the framework of the objectives of the CAP over the EU membership decade”. Pursuing the opportunity to compare the key tendencies, data in all surveys is provided following the single methodology and structure.
As in any previous year, some preliminary statistical indicators for the year 2014 were used. Final economic and financial outcomes will be reflected in the later publications of the Department of Statistics and in the next-year LIAE survey. Insignificant deviations due to rounding are possible in statistical data.
The publication is intended for all who are interested in the achievements and problems of the agrarian and food sector. Material provided here might be useful for agricultural specialists and scientists, farmers and entrepreneurs, teachers and students.
Our sincere gratitude goes to the Heads of the Department of Statistics and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, the Agricultural Information and Rural Business Centre (AIRBC) and their staff members for provided statistical information and advice. Dear readers, we are kindly looking forward to your remarks and proposals.
Agricultural and Food Sector in Lithuania 2014. Autorių kolektyvas: R. Melnikienė - vadovė... [et. al.]. - V.: Lietuvos agrarinės ekonomikos institutas, 2015. - 89 p.: iliustr., lent.(online) ISSN 2351-6321.
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© Lithuanian Institute of Agrarian Economics, 2015
