Popyt na rolnicze usługi mechanizacyjne w krajach Unii Europejskiej

Abstract

The use of mechanization services can significantly contribute to reducing production costs, enabling agricultural producers to implement technical progress without any investment. The article attempted to identify trends in demand for agricultural mechanization services in the European Union countries in 2010-2017. Changes in the value of services per 1 ha of UAA and changes in the share of mechanization services in total expenditures incurred for agricultural production were examined. It was found that the value of services per 1 ha of UAA on average in the EU increased. The share of services in intermediate consumption has also increased. As a result of grouping objects by the Ward method, 5 clusters of countries were distinguished, which differed among each other in terms of the proposed features, while the countries that created the focus were characterized by similar values of variables. The countries in which both a clear increase in the value of mechanization services per unit area was observed as well as a significant increase in the value of services in indirect consumption were: Finland, Germany, Latvia, Romania and Estonia. A clear decline in demand for mechanization services occurred in Greece and Lithuania.