About agriculture in Lithuania


Lithuania:

  • covers an area of 65 000 km²

  • farmland comprises 60% and forest 32%.

  • total population of nearly 3 million

  • 42% lives in rural areas

  • has a polarised farm structure (of the approx. 200,000 farms, more than 40% are less than 5 ha), but with a significant ongoing structural change

  • 25% increase in the average farm size since Lithuania joined the EU in 2004.

Purchase of agricultural real estate in Lithuania.

When Lithuania joined the European Union in 2004, the EU allowed Lithuania to put restrictions on foreigners buying forest land and farmland for a 10-year transition period.

On the April 29th, 2014, the President of Lithuania approved a new law on ownership of farmland, which became valid on the 1st May 2014.

Main topics about farmland ownership (short summary):

  1. Individuals and 'entities' (or related persons in both cases) cannot own more than 500 ha of farmland together.
  2. Related entities are those, when they directly or indirectly have 25% or more of voting power of the other company; or where the same owners have more than 25% in the companies.
  3. The individual, who wants to buy farmland in Lithuania, must in principle:
    1. at least 3 years’ experience in the last 10 years in agricultural production and a record of farmland registration as a farmer or a diploma in farmland management.
    2. special rules for farmers, younger than 40.
    3. individuals must get a permission to buy farmland.
  4. An 'entity' which wishes to buy farmland, must have not less than 3 years’ experience in the last 10 years in farmland management, must be registered and declared fields, income from farmland must be at least 50% of total income and is economically viable.
  5. Both individuals and entities, must assure that during the following 5 years farmland will be used according to the purpose, and the minimal approved income level per ha is maintained.
  6. Priority right to buy:
    1. Co-owners
    2. Tenants
    3. Direct neighbors
    4. In some cases – the state


Here you will find an overview of agricultural farms for sale  

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us on telephone +45 5136 1495 or e-mail: jk@jkaps.dk.

More information  



Agriculture in Lithuania.

Agriculture is one of the oldest businesses in Lithuania and occupies the bulk of the territory in rural areas.

Lithuania is historically an agricultural country. The agricultural sector carries out very important economic, social, environmental and ethno-cultural functions and is considered a priority sector of the national economy. It is the second largest sector in the Lithuanian economy and played a significant economic and social role in all the periods of the country’s history.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing made up 3.3 per cent of the gross value added in 2016, and exports of agricultural and food products accounted for 19.4 percent of Lithuania’s total export.

Even though Lithuania only covers an area of 65,300 km², the agro-climatic conditions vary in different parts of the country. Lithuania has a cool climate with warm summers and cold winters. The average temperature in July is about 17°C, while in winter it is about −5°C.

An interesting feature of the Lithuanian climate is that the winters are mild and there is little snow. Autumn is warm and rainy, spring is relatively cold, and summer is warm. The weather is quite humid with relatively high precipitation over the year. There is high cloud cover year-round, which significantly reduces the amount of heat the sun transmits to the Earth. Even in summer, the actual duration of sunshine in Lithuania does not exceed 60 per cent of the potential sunlight for this latitude.

Crop capacity is the main factor limiting the cultivation of heat-loving plants in Lithuania on a large scale – it is very unstable both year by year and over the year. During the hottest summers when tropical air masses come to Lithuania, the air temperature can get as high as 33–35°C, but in other years the temperature in July can drop to 6–7°C at night.

The average annual precipitation in Lithuania is 670 mm, but its distribution throughout the country is uneven, ranging from 500 to 900 mm. Such large fluctuations are caused by changes in large relief forms, plains and altitudes. Some 60–65 per cent of the annual precipitation occurs during the warm season (April–October). In summer, there is very heavy rainfall every year where 30 mm or more can come down during a single day. Fog is common.

Overall, it can be said that Lithuania has a better balance of biological resources than most of the other EU countries. Therefore, production volumes must also be increased and intensive technologies implemented measures that encourage businesses to protect natural balance and use biological resources in a sustainable and responsible manner. After all, farmers are the first link in the food production chain and they are not limited to growing foods. Farmers often also produce and process products and even sell them directly to consumers.

Crop farming

The favorable natural conditions in Lithuania and the good number of quality agricultural land for cultivating crops together with the long-standing experience in their cultivation have resulted in an increase in cereal crop yield over a few years. This was influenced by an increase in crop areas and the introduction of more advanced technology in crop production. Lithuanian farmers have reached the level of Western Europe. Continuously growing grain yield is becoming the dominant trend.

In Lithuania, more than 32,000 farms of various sizes grow cereal, oil and leguminous crops. Grain plants form a significant part of the crop structure. In 2016, the total crop area was 2.1 million hectares. The relative share of cereals and legumes in the crop structure particularly increased: cereal crops accounted for 65 per cent, and leguminous crops accounted for 11 per cent. The total production of cereals grown in Lithuania accounts for 34.3 per cent of all agricultural production.

The favorable climatic conditions in Lithuania make it possible to cultivate rye, wheat, triticale, barley, buckwheat and other grain crops. They use grains to produce malt, flour, various groats, flakes, pasta, breakfast cereals and cracker, starch, gluten and syrups, and feed makes up the largest part of the production.

Vegetable farming

Lithuania has suitable climatic conditions and sufficient agricultural productivity for the development of vegetable farming. Preconditions for the development of outdoor vegetable farming are also created by traditions. In 2016, 10,7 thousand hectares were used for outdoor vegetable crops. Greenhouses for growing vegetables occupied 0,5 thousand hectares. In 2016, vegetable crops accounted for 3.4 per cent of total agricultural production. The average yield of outdoor vegetables was 18.6 t/ha. The crop yield for outdoor vegetables was 196,2 thou. tons, and 18,4 thou. tons for greenhouse vegetables. Farmers grew 97.2 per cent of outdoor vegetables and 80 per cent of greenhouse vegetables, while agricultural companies produced 2.8 per cent and 20 per cent respectively.

The biggest outdoor vegetable crop in 2016 was cabbage (21.5 per cent), followed by carrots (18.7 per cent), beetroot (16.8 per cent) and onions (15.9 per cent). The crop yield for cabbage was 65,300 tons, for carrots – 44,400 tons, beetroot – 40,300 tons, and onions – 26,500 tons.

The cultivation of potatoes is a traditional branch of agriculture in Lithuania, with about 70 per cent of farms growing them. In 2016, the total potato crop area was 21,3 thousand hectares, and their crop yield was 340,200 tons.

Fruit cultivation

In 2016, there were 29,500 hectares of orchards and berry fields in Lithuania. The most common cultivar in Lithuanian fruit and berry farms is the apple tree. In 2016, 13,700 hectares of land were used for apple trees. Pears (1,7000 ha), plums (1,100 ha), and sour and sweet cherries (1,300 ha) accounted for approx. four per cent of the total land used for orchards and berry fields in 2016. Berry crops have increased in recent years and accounted for 11,400 hectares in 2016. The bulk was used for black currants 4,500 hectares.

Various products are produced from fruit and berries. Juice was the main product, with 9.7 million liters produced. The largest part (60 per cent) was made from apples. Other key products include frozen fruit and berries, as well as various jams, marmalades, jellies, puree and pastes. Various wines and cider are also produced.

Dairy farming

The importance of dairy farming in Lithuanian agriculture remains significant. Milk production is in second place after grain production.

In 2016, 47,100 farms had dairy cattle. The most cows (21 per cent) were kept in farms with three to nine cows. In 2016, the milk yield was 1,756,000 tons, of which 80 per cent was bought for processing. In Lithuania, about 79 per cent of the milk is produced by farmers and family farms. The average cattle productivity in Lithuania in 2016 was 5,536 kg per cow.

Lithuania’s main specialization in the dairy processing industry is cheese. These products also predominate in the export structure.

Meat production

The livestock farming sector in Lithuania is an important and priority agricultural field, supplying the country’s consumers with various livestock products and the agriculture industry itself with organic fertilizers. For the development of this sector, the country has favorable natural conditions, livestock breeding traditions, and a wealth of experience.

At the end of 2016, 57,500 farms were raising cattle. The average farm size is not large. One farm had an average of 12 cattle. In terms of pure-bred beef cattle, Limousin, Angus, Aubrac and Charolais are the most popular in Lithuania. However, crossbreeds are the most widespread.

At the end of 2016, there were 663,900 pigs in Lithuania, of which 48,800 were pure-bred sows’ There were 163,600 sheep at 10,400 farms, for an average of 16 sheep per farm. At the end of 2016, there were 10,098,900 domesticated birds being bred in Lithuania, of which 98 per cent where chickens. Laying hens accounted for one third of the chickens. Geese, ducks, turkeys and other fowl were also bred.



Here you will find an overview of agricultural farms for sale  

Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.