Rural development policy in Lithuania

Nagrinėjama Lietuvos kaimo būklė, žemės ūkio vaidmuo sprendžiant kaimo socialines problemas, kaimo plėtros politikos sėkmės ir nesėkmės, šią politiką lemiantys veiksniai, svarbiausi uždaviniai, spręstini pasirengimo integracijai į ES metu ir pirmuoju narystės dešimtmečiu, ypač kreipiant dėmesį į kaimo socialinės raidos ir aplinkosaugos priemonių platesnio diegimo, kaimo žmonių gyvenimo lygio kėlimo, jų iniciatyvos žadinimo klausimus, dėstomos kaimo plėtros strategijos laikotarpiu iki 2015 m. pagrindinės nuostatos. Straipsnyje panaudoti „Nacionalinės žemės ūkio ir kaimo plėtros 2000-2006 metams programos" bei „Žemės ūkio ir kaimo plėtros strategijos laikotarpiu iki 2015 m." duomenys ir išvados.During the period of transition into market economy Lithuania faced many problems. Land restitution to rightful j owners, privatisation of the property of the former collective and state farms, and revitalisation of private farming turned out to be more complicated than it was supposed. Dealing with these problems, the main attention was paid to the development of agriculture. It was aimed at keeping a necessary level of production of agricultural products and at same time it was expected that problems of rural development would be solved also. However, fanners have to produce healthy products, run sustainable farming, keep the cultural landscape, etc. As a result, besides traditional agriculture it is necessary to run alternative businesses that should strengthen the vitality of the countryside. The establishment of the Rural Support Fund in 1997 was a turn towards rural development policy. Later the National Agricultural and Rural Development Programme was passed and in the year 2000 the project of the Strategy for the period up to the year 2015 was prepared. Research on rural development (SWOT analysis) disclosed its strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and hazards in Lithuania and showed ways how to overcome the difficulties of the transition period. In the vision, the Lithuanian countryside is attractive for work, living and recreation. The state role is to ensure a well-balanced rural development, to create the favourable legal, economic and social environment