Book Description
Agriculture in Eastern Europe is undergoing dramatic change. Ownership of land and animals is transferred from the state to the private sector. Consumer and producer subsidies are being phased out, and formerly protected internal markets are being opened up. These changes have had profound effects on production and rural income and employment, as internal and export demand collapsed and prices plummeted. The whole sector now has to adapt to these open market conditions. The purpose of this paper is to analyze past and present development in the livestock sector, in order to prepare for a carefully formulated and executed adjustment. The authors try to explain the forces which shaped the sector in the past and, based on this analysis, suggest priorities for World Bank assistance in the modernization process.