Comparison of the size structure of farms in Slovakia and France and their position in the food chain

Abstract

Generally, the appropriate size structure of farms is considered a positive factor towards achieving
competitiveness in agricultural enterprises. The structure of farms in Slovakia shows a high share of large
scale farms, established during the period of forced collectivisation, mirroring the Soviet model, when the
factors of production were withdrawn from individual farmers and given to combined larger units. Older EU
countries moved away from smaller scale family farms by integrating these farms into larger units in the
form of producer groups, without surrendering the ownership of the factors of production. In this way they
significantly increased their influence in the food chain. Therefore it should be a valid comparison to
consider the size structure of farms in Slovakia and to contrast this with France, as well as to examine their
position in the food chain in the dairy sector. The question as to whether the size structure of farms in
Slovakia is sufficient for the long-term development of the Slovak agri-food sector, and whether there is a
strong enough position of producers in the food chain in the milk sector, can also be answered. The abolition
of milk quotas, price volatility in agricultural markets and increasing competition threaten the stability of
farms, and it can therefore be assumed that integrated primary producer associations in the food supply chain
will be able to better withstand the current challenge.