Agriculture and food in Lithuania

Agriculture in Lithuania

Lithuania is a country located in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. Lithuania covers an area of about 65,300 square kilometers (25,212 square miles) and has a population of approximately 2.9 million people. The capital and largest city of Lithuania is Vilnius. Lithuanian is the official language of Lithuania. Lithuania has a long history, dating back to the first millennium AD. Lithuania was once part of the Soviet Union but gained independence in 1991. Lithuania is a member of the European Union and NATO. Lithuania has a variety of scenery, from forests and lakes to coastal areas and rolling hills. The country's climate is maritime and temperate, with cool summers and mild winters. Lithuania is a popular tourist destination, especially for outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and fishing. Vilnius, the capital city, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has many historical landmarks. Lithuania also has a number of national parks and nature reserves. Lithuania is a small country located in northeastern Europe. Despite its small size, the country has a lot to offer in terms of landscape and scenery. The Lithuanian countryside is characterized by rolling hills, forests, rivers, and lakes. The capital city of Vilnius is located in the center of the country and is surrounded by picturesque countryside. The Baltic Sea coast is just a short drive from Vilnius and offers beautiful sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters. Lithuania also has several national parks, which are perfect for hiking, biking or simply enjoying the outdoors. Lithuania's economy is considered to be one of the fastest-growing in the European Union (EU). Lithuania became a member of the EU and NATO in 2004. In 2013, Lithuania joined the euro zone. The Lithuanian economy is highly dependent on foreign trade. The country exports mainly machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, wood products, and textiles. The main export partners are Russia, Latvia, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Lithuania's main import partners are Russia, Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands. The country's major imports include machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, food products, and fuels. The Lithuanian government is working to attract foreign investment and to promote the country as an attractive location for business. The government offers a number of tax incentives and other benefits to businesses that invest in Lithuania. The Lithuanian economy is expected to continue to grow in the coming years. The country's membership in the EU and NATO, and its close relationship with other European countries, are expected to provide opportunities for further economic growth. Lithuania has a long agricultural tradition, and today the country is one of the leading producers of agricultural products in the European Union. Lithuania's climate and soil are well suited for agricultural production, and the country is one of the largest exporters of grain in the EU. Lithuania's main crops include wheat, barley, potatoes, and sugar beets. Lithuania is also a major producer of livestock, and the country's beef and dairy products are among the best in the EU. In recent years, Lithuanian farmers have increasingly turned to organic agriculture, and today the country is one of the leading producers of organic food in Europe. Lithuania's agricultural sector is an important part of the country's economy, and agriculture accounts for about 4% of Lithuania's GDP. Today, Lithuanian agriculture is characterized by family-operated smallholdings and a strong cooperative movement. The country's temperate climate and fertile soils support a diverse range of crops and livestock, including grain, potatoes, vegetables, fruit, pork, beef, and dairy products. Lithuanian farms are increasingly specialized and efficient, and many farmers have switched to organic methods in recent years. Lithuania's agricultural sector employs around 8% of the country's workforce and contributes around 4% of its GDP. The sector is highly subsidized by the EU, with direct payments accounting for over 60% of farm income in recent years. Lithuania's membership in the EU has also opened up new markets for Lithuanian farmers, who now export significant quantities of agricultural products to other member states. Despite these positive developments, Lithuanian agriculture faces a number of challenges in the 21st century. Agricultural productivity remains relatively low compared to other EU countries, and the sector is highly dependent on imported inputs such as feed, fertilizer, and machinery. Climate change is also a major concern, as Lithuania's farms are vulnerable to extreme weather events such as droughts and floods. The Lithuanian government is working to address these challenges through a number of initiatives, including investments in agricultural research and development, support for the adoption of new technologies, and programs to encourage young people to enter the farming profession. With continued effort, Lithuania's agricultural sector is well-positioned to meet the challenges of the 21st century and play a vital role in the country's economy. Lithuania's population is estimated at 2,921,262 as of July 2019. Lithuania is the southernmost of the three Baltic states and is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, to the east of Sweden and Denmark. It borders Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, Poland to the south, and Kaliningrad Oblast (a Russian exclave) to the southwest. Lithuania has an estimated population of 2.8 million as of 2019. The capital and largest city is Vilnius, with a population of 580,328 (801,128 together with Vilnius County). Lithuania is divided into 10 counties (singular – apskritis) and 60 municipalities (singular – savivaldybė). Lithuania has a relatively high urbanization rate of 71.2% with Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipeda, Šiauliai, Panevėžys being the largest cities. According to Eurostat data, Lithuanian urban areas with population over 100,000 (as of 2012) are Vilnius (542,664), Kaunas (370,993), Klaipeda (203,346), Šiauliai (162,752), Panevežys (128,806). Lithuanians are a Baltic people. The official language, Lithuanian, is one of only two surviving languages in the Baltic branch of the Indo-European language family, the other being Latvian. According to the 2011 census, 82.5% of Lithuania's population spoke Lithuanian as their native language, 6.9% spoke Russian, 4.8% Polish, 1.2% English, 0.2% Belarusian, 0.2% Yiddish, 0.1% Ukrainian and 0.1% German as their first language. About 1.5 million people in Lithuania (17%) and 2 million people (23%) in the world speak Lithuanian as their native language. Most Lithuanians belong to the Roman Catholic Church, while the Lietuvininkai who lived in the northern part of East Prussia prior to World War II were mostly Evangelical Lutherans. The territory of the modern state of Lithuania has been inhabited since Mesolithic times. It was first inhabited by Neanderthals, but they became extinct about 27,000 years ago. The earliest surviving inhabitants, the Balts, arrived about 2,500 BC. Lithuania has a long and rich history of folk music. One of the most important Lithuanian folk music forms is sutartinės – polyphonic songs performed by groups of usually 3–5 singers (men or women) who did not follow any specific music notation. Due to the lack of written sources, however, much of what is known about this type of music is based on late 19th-century – early 20th-century research. Lithuanian folk music belongs to Baltic music branch which is connected with neolithic corded ware culture. Lithuanian folk music has archaic elements (2nd millennium BC), which were partly influenced by Slavic, Germanic and Finnish music traditions. In Lithuanian folklore there are several legends explaining the origins of sutartinės. One legend claims that sutartinės originate from old court music, or from the ancient war cries used to mobilize Lithuanian tribes into battle against the Teutonic Order in the 13th century. Another legend claims that sutartinės are a legacy of the grand dukes of Lithuania – Gediminas and Algirdas, who allegedly created them after hearing singing in concord at a feast in Dainava (present-day Kaunas) while on a hunting expedition.