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Agricultural sector trends and policy context
(2. Juni 2008) Agriculture is a small and contracting sector in the economy, with its contribution to GDP and employment at about 1% and 4% respectively. Both the volume and value of agricultural production decreased over the period 1990-92 to 2002-04, by around 4% and 30% respectively. Farm labour productivity rose by 1.4% per annum between 1990 and 2004.
The intensity of agricultural production is diminishing, with farm input use falling more sharply than the reduction in the volume of agricultural production (over 4%) and the area farmed (–3%) over the period 1990-92 to 2002-04. As a result, agricultural production has become more extensive. From 1990-92 to 2002-04 inorganic fertiliser use fell by over 20% for nitrogen fertiliser and 60% for phosphate fertiliser, pesticide use fell by almost 30%, and direct on-farm energy consumption by nearly 30%.Farmland accounts for about 37% of the total land area, of which around 25% is arable and permanent cropland, and much of the rest permanent pasture (2002-04). About 60% is summer (mountain) pasture on altitudes up to 3 000 m [3]. With climate and topography favouring grazing, animal production (mainly cattle) account for nearly 70% of the value of final farm output.
Agricultural support has declined, but is still more than twice the OECD average. Support o farmers (as measured by the OECD’s Producer Support Estimate) declined from 78% of arm receipts in 1986-88 to 71% in 2002-04, compared to the OECD average of 31%. The hare of output and input linked support, which provides the greatest incentive to expand production, fell from 92% of the PSE in 1986-88 to 66% in 2002-04. Over the same period otal support to agriculture, including border protection, fell from about CHF 10 to 8 USD 7 to 6) billion per annum, declining as a share of GDP from 4% to just under 2%.
There has been growing emphasis on agri-environmental policies. From 1993 Ecological irect Payments were granted on condition that farmers adopt a set of environmental anagement practices. By 2004 these payments were 6% of the PSE [5], and 15% of udgetary expenditure on agriculture [3]. About 40% of these payments were provided to mprove animal welfare; and over 30% were used to finance ecological compensation areas ECAs) to develop more extensive farming and semi-natural habitats (e.g. xtensive eadows, hedges, floral and rotation fallow, extensive cereal and rapeseed production) ). A further 0% was assigned for summer pasturing to help prevent scrub rowth; and much of the remaining 10% went to organic farming [5]. Revision of the gricultural Policy Reform programme, which provided the basic ramework governing gricultural policy for the 1999-03 period, required that any general direct payment to
farmers meet five environmental criteria going beyond legal environmental requirements: balanced use of nutrients; at least 7% of the farm area to be under extensive practices or emi-natural habitats (ECAs); crop rotation; soil protection; and improved pesticide anagement. Animal welfare is an additional sixth criterion.
Farming is subject to economy wide environmental measures and international nvironmental greements. The Water Protection Act requires farmers to limit manure and ertiliser application per ectare; install facilities to store manure for at least three months; nd adopt practices to prevent pollution of water from fertilisers and pesticides [4]. Under he Order on Hazardous Substances soil nutrient assessment is compulsory for each crop uring the growing season [7]. Farming is affected by various international environmental greements, including lowering ammonia emissions (Gothenburg Protocol) and greenhouse as emissions (Kyoto Protocol).
Zur Hauptseite"Environmental Performance of Agriculture in OECD Countries since 1990"
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