Két évtized birtokkoncentrációs folyamatainak vizsgálata Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok vármegyében

The characteristic trend of the past decades in the agriculture of the European Union and our country has been the decrease in the number of farms, the continuous increase in the land area per farm. Since our accession to the EU, the concentration of holdings has been even more pronounced. The trend is well indicated by the relevant data of the General Agricultural Censuses of 2010 and 2020. According to the 2010 data, more than two-thirds of the Hungarian agricultural area was used by barely 2.5 percent of producers. This national trend was confirmed by our series of questionnaire surveys conducted in Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok county between 1997 and 2018. In our county and settlement level surveys, we also encountered national trends, we experienced a similar ratio, and this did not change by 2020. A rearrangement occurred in the size categories of those with large areas. In the size categories of 300-500 and 500-1,000 hectares, the number of land and farms increased significantly, while in these two largest size categories, the number of farmers and the area they cultivate decreased. In fact, the farming community adapted to the current support policy: they tried to maximize the available support by dividing their areas and dividing property rights. It is important to note that within the framework of the “Land for Farmers” government program, between 2015 and 2016, approximately 8,600 hectares of previously rented, state-owned land of varying quality and size came into the ownership of farmers. However, this state step could not reduce the continuous increase in the size of holdings either. Our series of questionnaire surveys conducted in JNSZ county greatly helped to explore the extent and characteristics of land concentration, farm diversification and multifunctional agriculture, and at the same time we analyzed the negative and positive effects of land and capital concentration. Our formulated hypotheses were confirmed, and in summary it can be stated that as a result of a continuous capital and land concentration process, medium and large farms have been continuously strengthened, with the predominance of crop production, mechanization and productivity have increased significantly, while employment has decreased. Unfortunately, farm diversification processes have remained below the level we expected. The escape for the farming community from this trap situation that has developed over three decades can be the restoration and improvement of the distorted balance between sectors, diversification and increasing the proportion of organic farming supported by the Union. However, it is questionable whether the subsidies aimed at efficient farming, which are independent of size categories and will be introduced in the next support cycle, will achieve the intended goal or will further stimulate the concentration of holdings.