Crop diversity has an important role in sustainable agroecosystems. This study analyzed the crop diversity of agricultural holdings in particular regions (NUTS III) in Slovakia and identified the impact of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments on the crop diversity of agricultural holdings. There are regional disparities in crop diversity in Slovakia. The highest crop diversity is typical for the regions with the best soil quality. From the results of econometric models, it was found that some of the CAP payments have an effect on crop diversity, mainly single area payment scheme (SAPS) payments, which had a negative effect, and payments for areas facing natural constraints (ANC) and animal welfare, which were found to have positive effects. It can be concluded that the second pillar of the CAP is able to improve or at least maintain crop diversity in Slovakia. Other important factors found to influence crop diversity are irrigation, total crop area corresponding with the farm size, geographical location including the soil quality, and the legal structure of agricultural holdings. However, the distance of the farm from the city, the education of managers, and membership in farmers’ associations are not important factors for crop diversity in Slovakia.

Agricultural land is a limited natural resource with increasing economic value. This study analyses land rental relationships in Slovakia, including legal rental regulations, and identifies the impact of certain factors, such as the European Union Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments, and geographical and economic factors on land rental prices. From the results of econometric models, it was found that certain CAP payments have an effect on rental prices, mainly the single area payment scheme (SAPS), payments for agri-environmental-climate schemes (AECS), and animal welfare, which were found to have positive effects. Other important factors found to influence rental prices are economic indicators (such as total revenue share of total costs, share of revenue from agricultural production in terms of total revenue, share of production costs as a percentage of total costs, wages, and number of employees) and geographical factors (such as region or partial production areas). However, the distance of the farm from the district city (LAU 1) and the share of farmland affected by natural constraints do not considerably affect rental prices in Slovakia. Land consolidation is a statistically significant factor according to the models; however, its impact is almost zero. Knowledge of these factors constitutes important know-how, not only for policy makers but also for the actors operating in the land rental market (e.g., landlords, tenants, experts on land valuation, and real estate agents).

Most of the agricultural land in Slovak republic is even after a 9-year period from the entry into the EU leased and this is not a different situation in comparison to the majority of the EU member states. The main focus of the paper is on the current status in the structure of the agricultural land ownership and agricultural land market. The analysis highlights the existing problems such as a high percentage of agricultural land under the state control, fragmentation of agricultural land, differences in the regulatory and institutional framework, agricultural land prices, limited possibility of acquiring agricultural land by foreigners. By comparing the average prices of the arable land the market prices were significantly higher than administrative prices in evaluated districts.Keywords: agricultural land, ownership, agricultural land market, foreigners, price of the agricultural land, rural development Abstrakt Väčšina poľnohospodárskej pôdy na Slovensku je aj po 9 rokoch po vstupe do EÚ prenajatá, čo je beţnou skutočnosťou aj vo väčšine členských štátov EÚ. Hlavným cieľom príspevku je poskytnúť prehľad aktuálneho stavu vo vlastníctve poľnohospodárskej pôdy, ako aj rozvoja trhu s poľnohospodárskou pôdou. Analýza vyzdvihuje existujúce problémy, ako je vysoké percento poľnohospodárskej pôdy pod správou štátu, rozdrobenosť poľnohospodárskej pôdy, rozdiely v právnom a inštitucionálnom rámci, ceny poľnohospodárskej pôdy, obmedzená moţnosť získavania poľnohospodárskej pôdy cudzincami. of Central European Agriculture, 2013, 14(3), p.249-262 249 Journal of Central European Agriculture, 2013, 14(3), p.249-262 249 Journal of Central European Agriculture, 2013, 14(3), p.249-262 249 Journal of Central European Agriculture, 2013, 14(3), p.249-262 249 Journal of Central European Agriculture, 2013, 14(3), p.249-262 1102Journal of Central European Agriculture, 2013, 14(3), p.1102-1115 DOI: 10.5513/JCEA01/14.3.1314 pôdou. Analýza vyzdvihuje existujúce problémy, ako je vysoké percento poľnohospodárskej pôdy pod správou štátu, rozdrobenosť poľnohospodárskej pôdy, rozdiely v právnom a inštitucionálnom rámci, ceny poľnohospodárskej pôdy, obmedzená moţnosť získavania poľnohospodárskej pôdy cudzincami. Cena poľnohospodárskej pôdy na Slovensku je v porovnaní s cenovou úrovňou členských štátov EU niţšia. Cenový rozdiel je evidentný aj v prípade komparácie cien za nájom poľnohospodárskej pôdy. Proces určenia cien poľnohospodárskej pôdy moţno v súčasnosti charakterizovať ako chaotický, keďţe nie je k dispozícii jednotná cenová úprava, ktorá by určovala cenu poľnohospodárskej pôdy. Pri porovnaní úrovní trhových a administratívnych cien výsledky realizovaného prieskumu potvrdili, ţe menšie výmery ornej pôdy -do 1 ha -sú predávané za vyššie ceny, ako parcely nad 1 ha. Tento fakt je dôkazom, ţe parcely s výmerou nad 1 ha sú určené na iné, neţ poľnohospodárske vyuţitie. Podľa realizovaného prieskumu bola identifikovaná priemerná trhová cena parciel zahraničných subjektov na ornej pôde 1.95 €*m-2, zatiaľ čo cena priemerná trhová cen...

No abstract

In Slovakia, the large-scale acquisition of agricultural land in combination with land concentration represents a legitimate threat that can lead to land grabbing. Based on the research, two interrelated areas of protection need to be effectively regulated to limit land grabbing: the protection of access to land and the protection of agricultural land. Due to the absence of relevant data analysis regarding this issue, the main aim of the study was to analyse the emergence of land concentration in Slovakia based on historical and cultural factors and to evaluate the current legislative and institutional framework of both aspects of land protection with a possible impact on the successively graduating threat of land grabbing. In particular, analytical methods were used, presenting the data from secondary literature sources, a questionnaire survey, and representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Slovakia. The research shows that although the state has adopted the necessary legal framework for the protection of property rights to agricultural land, it is not possible to enforce it, as the institutional framework for its implementation is absent. It is also the state’s malfunctioning land protection regulatory mechanism and the absence of indirect action instruments that may be key indicators leading to the processes of industrial agriculture. Therefore, the adoption of legislation limiting agricultural land acquisition is important, but the processes of land grabbing presume the state’s complex provision of a regulatory mechanism and adoption of strategic measures aimed at sustainable land quality and food security.