Specialization and diversification of agricultural production in the light of sustainable development

Andrzej Czyżewski,Katarzyna Smędzik-Ambroży

doi:10.14254/2071-8330.2015/8-2/6

Abstract

Th e study evaluated the importance of agricultural production structures for eco- nomic effi ciency and environmental sustainability of farms. For this purpose, multi- variate methods were used: ordering and data envelopment analysis (DEA). Th e study is based on accounting data from the farms of intensive agriculture in Wielkopolska Province, collected by the Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics in Warsaw in 2004-2009. It was demonstrated that diversifi ed farms achieve similar economic ef- fi ciency indicators as specialized farms. At the same time it was proven that the farms with production specializing in breeding cattle, implement their function of guard- ians of the countryside in the same degree or even better. Th us, the main hypothesis of the study formulated on the basis of studying literature was rejected. It said that: specialized farms achieve higher economic effi ciency with lower environmental sus- tainability of the production than diversifi ed farms. In the diversifi ed farms there is higher environmental sustainability of production at lower economic effi ciency than in specialized farms.

Highlights

One of the most important factors determining the economic performance of the agricultural farm is carried out in the production lines
In this group were 90% of farms specializing in cattle breeding and multi-type ones and most of those dealing with field crops
It can be argued that the economic efficiency and environmental sustainability of these types of farms were similar, the farms specializing in cattle breeding showed slightly higher average levels of sustainability than the farms with diversified production

Summary

Introduction

One of the most important factors determining the economic performance of the agricultural farm is carried out in the production lines. They determine whether the farm is specialized or diversified (or omnidirectional or multidirectional). Vol 8, No.2, 2015 due to an increase in the intensity of the use of resources, which accompanies specialized production. This causes, on the one hand, an increase in the efficiency of production, on the other hand, it can adversely affect the quality of agricultural production, space and the natural environment of the village The answer to this question is of particular significance, which ensures the growing importance of agriculture as a provider of public goods

Methods

Results

Conclusion