Organic animal husbandry, fishery and apiculture development in Lithuania

Abstract

Organic farming has a special place in the world, EU and Lithuania because of the goal to provide safe and high quality food products for people, at the same time preserving and protecting the environment. Animal husbandry plays an important role in organic farming, which not only allows people to provide with various products, but produced organic fertilizer helps to maintain and improve soil fertility. The article presents aggregate data of the different animal species dynamics as well as beekeeping and fishery development in Lithuanian organic farms in 2005-2010. The main aim of the study is to analyze the organic livestock, fishery and bee-keeping the current situation in Lithuania, the potential for future growth and causes. Data analysis of the factual and statistical data analysis techniques showed that livestock and beekeeping development is weak; dominating direction of farms is crop production with cereals prevailing. In order to promote the development of livestock and beekeeping in Lithuania, it is necessary to review the amount of compensation and payment arrangements, pay greater attention to the development of organic livestock production. Lithuania does not have significant opportunities to develop eco-fishing, because it limits the total pond area in Lithuania.