ISHS Acta Horticulturae 699: I International Symposium on Improving the Performance of Supply Chains in the Transitional Economies
INFLUENCE OF TRANSFORMATION TRENDS ON ENTREPRENEURIAL POTENTIAL IN EAST CROATIA |
| Authors: | S. Tolić, R. Lončarić |
| Keywords: | agricultural region, rural development, agricultural structure, TEA index, educational level, horticultural production |
| Abstract:
Croatia is a small country in southeast Europe characterized by distinct local and regional differences. At the beginning of the 1990’s, Croatia was faced with a deep economic crisis caused by both the struggle for independence and a poorly adapted market economy. Croatia inherited (from the former Yugoslavia) great differences in regional development, depopulation and stagnation in many regions. East Croatia, the largest agricultural region, is known for the above average lag in economic development. Rural areas characterized by a large number of small-scale farms and high unemployment are the most vulnerable. Due to bankruptcy and the loss of numerous workplaces, agricultural employment increased to almost 24% of total regional employment. The number of part-time farms halved in the period 1991-2003. An average farm is only 2.8 ha of arable land. Only 2% of farmers have any education in farming practices. The TEA index of entrepreneurial activity is only 2.1. Due to the need to design regional and local programs for the future, this paper analyses those variables that have the greatest influence on farm productivity: de-agriculture, collectivization and the introduction of the market economy. Furthermore, the constraints and potential for entrepreneurship development in rural regions are investigated. | |
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