Feasibility of stakeholder participation in organizations of common interest for agricultural policy making

With the aim to describe a potential of stakeholders participating in agrarian policy making, the article analysis characteristics of the typical farmer who is interested in involvement into organizations of common interest. The analysis of the data received from 1108 representatives showed that although the willingness to cooperate in order to protect common interests is expressed by every second person, only a tenth of farmers participate in agricultural organizations. Higher intention to cooperate is expressed by middle-aged and better educated farmers rather than the youngest and the oldest as well as less educated representatives. In addition, men are keener on cooperating than women. It was also observed that stakeholder's initiative is related to the size and economic turnover of the farm. Statistical non-parametric tests and regression analysis on the sample allow to conclude that stakeholder participation in policy making in agriculture is insufficient in the case of Lithuania, therefore, institutional, procedural and managerial mechanisms are needed to balance the involvement of all stakeholder groups in to activities of common interests