Resource information
The concept of land consolidation is new in Latvia. Its main tasks are to eliminate land fragmentation and to facilitate farms of optimal size. One of the most important preconditions of land consolidation is forming of optimal size farmland plots in property and use, and land fragmentation, which has a major impact on both the operating conditions and other rural development processes. Land fragmentation affects not only land management, but it also increases transport costs. Already during the land reform in rural areas, land plots in property and land in use were divided per several land units. The other factor contributing to the fragmentation of farmlands is the development of land market, since it is not always possible to find land next to the owner’s farmland for purchasing or leasing the land to increase the land area. Within the course of the research, the analysis of the areas and fragmentation of economically active farms was conducted as well as the land owners were surveyed on variety of land use related and various rural environment characterising issues in Vircava parish. It was found that the growth of farm areas increases the fragmentation, and the results of the landowners survey show that the majority of the landowners are willing to expand their land plots in property, thereby increasing production rather than selling the land or leasing it to other farmers. Consequently, preconditions for land consolidation are being formed in Latvia as well as in other countries. It is important to find the most appropriate and efficient methods for their implementation.
