Climate change impact on agriculture in Lithuania: challenges, situation analysis and forecast

Animai husbandry is more resistant to impacts of climate change than agriculture is. However, possibilities for local communities adapt to climate change and mitigate its impact are highly dependent on socio-economic and environmental conditions and available resources. There are changes in livestock production. These changes may include: 1) diversification, intensification, and (or) pasture management, livestock and crop integration, 2) land use and irrigation expansion, and 3) duration of the production processes, 4) ecosystems and protection of nature, 5) improvement of routes for transportation of raw materials and produce, shortening of distances, 6) mixed livestock farming systems. It is necessary to emphasize the importance of diversification of business of small farms. The essential thing is adaptation to climate change, which means the need for rapid recovery and cost reduction actions. Climate change over the next two decades cannot be avoided, yet some degree of protection for our societies and economies from these changes can be achieved, for example, provision of relevant information, improved planning for production under particular climatic conditions better siuted to crop growth and infrastructure development. It is very important to develop a common international vision of longe-term goals and international co-operation, to achieve common goals to which each country will have to contribute its share, coordinate the actions of neighbouring countries in managing climate change