Agricultural land use in the Krekenava regional park and Naujamiestis subdistrict

Abstract

Analysis of the declared agricultural land and crop areas situated in the Krekenava regional park, which is situated in the Middle Lithuania, is presented in the article. Almost the entire territory of the park is situated in Panevėžys district, only the south-western edge marginally intervenes into the Kėdainiai district municipality of Kaunas County. The Naujamiestis subdistrict was chosen for the comparison of the use of agricultural lands in the regional park. The area of the subdistrict covers 15.6 thousand ha. In 2011, the total agricultural land and crop area declared in the regional park was 8184.19 ha, i.e. larger by 2510.31 ha or 30.67 percent more than in 2008. 371 family farms were declared, i.e. by 100 farms more in comparison with 2008. In 2011, in the Naujamiestis subdistrict the declared area of agricultural lands was 9851.33 ha, i.e. larger by 994.94 ha or 10.1 percent more than in 2008. The number of declared farmers in 2011 was 329, i.e. by 43 farms or 13 percent more than in 2008. Increased area of declared land and number of farms had and impact on changes in declared crops structure as well. Almost all declared crops area in both regional parks increased, except leguminous crops, which declared area decreased a lot. Only very small area of declared land did not meet requirements of good farming practice and rules of declaration in analyzed years. Comparison of declared areas in the Krekenava regional park, the Naujamiestis subdistrict and the municipality of Panevėžys district showed that agricultural lands and crop structure in the arable land is very similar – larger land areas are used for the growth of spring and winter crops. Consequently, the regulation of the activity, carried out in the Krekenava regional park, has no influence upon the intensity of land use.