| Abstract [eng] |
This article presents analysis on alternative business and accessory activity of rural residents in South East Lithuania. The analysis of the period of 1995-2009 shows that the increasing number of rural residents, unemployed or those receiving low income join the development of accessory businesses. The study was conducted for Varėna region, which characterizes with the largest forest cover, and the poorest soil fertility. In this way, the rural residents can carry not only agriculture, but also forestry. The article points that the businesses have been known for long ago. They were analyzed yet in the years 1939-1940. Before independence, the forest used to satisfy not only personal needs, but also served more for rest than for development of business. Today, the forest resources are the strong support for local residents. They render assistance to economically weak farms receiving low income from agriculture, to residents of smaller towns, who have temporarily lost their employment, also to people receiving low income, and unemployed residents. The article analyzes that a significant part of farmland in Lithuania consists of low-productivity soil (up to 32 productivity points). The agricultural activity of farmers farming the low-productivity lands situated in Varėna, Šalčininkai, Vilnius, and other localities attributed to those less favourable for agriculture, also in localities with specific natural disadvantages, has decreased, as well as agricultural activity of small farms, rural residents, and pensioners. It must be assumed that rural residents receive their income from some other subsidiary businesses (Table 1). Trying to receive money for maintenance and to remain in market, the farmers developed their farmland areas by leasehold. |
