LAND-REFORM AND FARM SECTOR RESTRUCTURING IN THE FORMER SOCIALIST-COUNTRIES IN EUROPE

Land reform in former socialist countries is proceeding along the dual track of restitution to former owners and distribution to users. Privatisation of land is accompanied by restructuring of large-scale farm enterprises, where all the production assets and facilities accumulated during the collectivist era. Despite an impressive growth in the number of private farmers and the complete dismantling of collectives in some countries, farmers are not rushing to establish independent farms on private land. The majority prefer to remain in some sort of a collective, where they can combine the benefits of private production with the supportive framework of a larger cooperative organisation. The farming structure is developing toward a mixture of small family farms, larger multifamily or commercial units, and looser cooperatives and farmers' associations emerging from large-scale socialised farms.