Csaba Csaki

Land and Farm Structure in Transition: The Case of Poland

This paper examines the relationship between size of land holding and family income, based on a recent survey of rural households in Poland. In general, the results indicate a positive relationship between income and size of land holdings, suggesting that successful Polish farmers are expanding their farm holdings through land market transactions. Constraints to efficient functioning of these land markets in Poland are investigated as well, which include high government-determined land transaction costs, complex registration procedures, poor access to mortgage facilities, and a bias against larger farms built into the unemployment benefits system. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: O18, Q15, Q24. 5 figures, 12 tables, 10 references.

Restructuring of traditional farms and new land relations in Ukraine

This paper reports the results of a 1993/1994 survey of 2500 farm managers, farm employees, and private farmers in Ukraine, highlighting changes at the farm level in response to programs of land reform and farm restructuring. As of early 1994, Ukrainian reform had moved to the first stage, which involves privatization of much of the agricultural land and creation of shareholding farms. Over 60% of agricultural land in Ukraine has been transferred from state to collective ownership; among the collective and state farms surveyed, nearly 75% have reorganized and most of them have allocated land and asset shares to members. The number of independent private farmers in Ukraine exceeds 30 000, but with an average farm size of 20 ha they cultivate less than 2% of farmland. Reform at the farm level in Ukraine has thus begun, but at present is at a very early stage.

Agricultural higher education in transforming Central and Eastern Europe

The paper discusses the major changes necessary for the agricultural higher education system in Central and Eastern Europe, including the former Soviet Union, to meet the challenges created by overall reforms in the food and agricultural sector as well as the adjustment of the global system of agricultural education. The issues arising from the need for reforms in the agricultural education system are presented in an overview of the inherited features of the system, an assessment of the current situation, a status report on the reform attempts and a discussion of the ctitical issues for the future.

The Agricultural Sector of Slovakia on the Eve of EU Accession

A team of economists surveys Slovakias agriculture, which continues to exhibit mediocre performance on the eve of that countrys accession to the European Union. The paper, utilizing national statistics as well as financial data collected from 1,200 corporate and 850 individual farms, evaluates the countrys current agricultural policies, which emphasize self-sufficiency and state intervention, reflecting a weak political commitment to marketbased agriculture. Also discussed is the limited progress in land privatization and farm restructuring, the preservation of inefficient and unprofitable large farms, as well as related rural impediments such as inadequate transport infrastructure and a shortage of skilled labor. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: Q15, Q18, Q24. 6 figures, 2 tables, 17 references.

Moldova: A Real Breakthrough?

Land reform efforts in Moldova have smoothed out the bipolar dual farm structure that characterized socialist agriculture. In addition to very small household plots and very large collectives, Moldova now has many farms of many sizes, with a variety of crops and ownership structures.

Estonian Agriculture in Efforts to Accede to the European Union

A team of World Bank economists presents results of their investigation of Estonias agricultural sector in light of the countrys efforts to accede to the European Union. The paper is based largely on field surveys and interviews conducted in 1997, as well as unpublished local statistics extending to 1998. The coverage encompasses agricultural policy, costs and prices, producer subsidies and price supports, consumer incomes, national budgets, foreign trade, and institutions promoting accession to the Union. Three alternative policy scenarios involving Estonias principal agricultural commodities (milk, wheat, barley, beef, and pork) are modeled and analyzed to assess options for the countrys integration with European regulations and legislation. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: O19, O52, Ql 1, Q17, Q18. 14 tables, 48 references.