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Latvia
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Latvia is a parliamentary republic, where the President is elected for a period of 4 years. This system was initially established on November 18, 1918. Both the Declaration of the Renewal of the Independence of the Republic of Latvia dated May 4, 1990 and the August 21, 1991 declaration re-establishing de facto independence, proclaimed the authority of the Satversme (Constitution). The highest legislative body in Latvia is the one-chamber Saeima (Parliament), whose 100 deputies are elected for four years in direct, proportionally representative elections by citizens 18 years of age and over. The Head of State is the President of the Republic and he/she is elected by the Parliament. The President appoints the Prime Minister who leads the government (Cabinet of Ministers).
Latvia lies on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea and between 55° and 58° North and 20° and 28° East; its area 64 589 km2 of which 38% is considered agricultural land and 44% forests. Since ancient times, with its coastline exceeding 500 km and easily accessible ports, Latvia has been a significant link between the states surrounding the Baltic Sea and Russia. The Baltic Sea has always been of great importance in its political, economic and cultural life. The overall length of Latvia's boundaries exceeds 1 800 km, 1 350 km of which is land border. Latvia is bounded by Estonia (337 km) - on the north, Lithuania (576 km) - on the south, Russia (292 km) and Byelorussia (171 km) - on the east The longest straight distance from North to South is 210 km and from East to West 450 km. The length of the Baltic coast line – 495 km.
Among the independent European states only Denmark, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Albania and Estonia as well as eight tiny countries are smaller. The total population is 2 319 100 (2004), of which 29.2% is rural (According to World Factbook the July 2006 population estimate was 2,274,735 with a growth rate of -0.67%). The economically active population is 1 400 000. Population density is 36.6 inhabitants/km2. The capital of Riga has a population of 806 000 in 2003 which constitutes 34.1 % of the total. Administratively, it is divided into 26 districts (496 municipalities) and 26 district towns. District self-government is an administration of a district, which shall, through the mediation of Council (a representation delegated by local (pagast) self-governments) and institutions formed by the Council perform the functions stipulated in the law. The largest cities are: Daugavpils (117 000), Liepaja (96 000), Jelgava (71 000), Jurmala (59 300), Ventspils (50 400), Rezekne (42 900).
The official state language: Latvian belongs to the Baltic language group of the Indo-European language family. It is one of the two still living Baltic languages, the other one being Lithuanian. Latvian is the native language of about 1 690 000 people in the Republic of Latvia. Additionally, 260 000 in Lithuania, 20 000 in the republics of the former USSR and 95 000 people abroad speak Latvian as a first or second language. The language has developed on the basis of the geographical closeness of its nationalities (Selonians, Semigallians, Couronians, Latgallians). Traditionally three main dialects have been distinguished - the Central dialect (the basis for the literary language), the High (or East) dialect and the dialect of the Livs. The nationalities: custom nationality Latvians-56.5%; Russians-30.4%; Byelorussian, Ukrainian, Polish – 9.7%, other nationalities – 3.4 per cent. Religion: Protestants - 29.8%, Roman Catholic-49.2%, Russian Orthodox –14.5%, Jews – 3.9%, Anglicans-1.8%, others – 0.8 per cent. Though several years have elapsed since the 2000 Population Census was conducted, the all-round and comprehensive information provides the basis for ever new aspects characterising the population. This time detailed information is provided on the place of birth and nationality of the Latvian population.
Data from the population census show that 1 938 000 or 81.5% of the population were born in Latvia and only 435 000 or 18.3% born in other countries. For 0.2% of population there is no information on their birthplace according to the census data.
The issue of national adherence is very important in the country. Although the naturalisation process goes on, only 1.77 million or 74.5% of the resident population were nationals of the Republic of Latvia. 504 000 thousand or 21.2% were Latvian non-citizens. Only a small part of the Latvia population, i.e. 103 000 persons or 4.3% were nationals of other, mainly European countries. The number of foreign nationals involves citizens of more than 100 different countries. 73% of all foreign nationals are citizens of the former USSR without any other nationality obtained. Almost 19% of foreign nationals were from the Russian Federation. The country joined the European Union in May 2004. The national currency is the Latvian Lat –LVL (1 lat = 100 Santim =1.42 EUR).
Latvia has a wide variety of plants and animals – total approved ~ 27,700 species: animal – 18,045 (the greatest part consists of invertebrate, mainly insect), plant – 2,434, lichen – 492, fungi – 4,000, algae(seaweed) – 2,680. |
3. CLIMATE AND AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONES Climate
For agriculture, drainage is more important than irrigation. Over 90% of the agricultural land in Latvia can only be intensively cultivated if drained. The current climatic conditions are the continuation of the sub Atlantic climate. The form of Latvia with its long sea coast and surrounding Baltic sea allows oceanic influences to penetrate to the interior of the land. Latvia is characterized by relatively mild winters and cool summers. For its latitude, Latvia has a peculiar temperature regime since the maritime temperate climate in the western part is transitional to a more continental one in the eastern part. The climate is characterized by moderately cold winters, while summers are moderately hot. The mean January temperature ranges from –3 °C to –7 °C in coastal regions. The period with the lowest temperatures lasts up to February 20 - February 25 in the western and central regions; in the eastern regions this period lasts till March 1 - March 5. Springs drag on, and are relatively cool. Latvian summers are cool and rainy. The mean July temperature rises to 16 °C – 17 °C. Variations in temperature are determined by relief and occurrence of water basins. The westerly winds crossing Latvia determine weather: the temperature of the coolest month drops below 10 °C and seldom remains for a prolonged period, while maxima in summer does not exceed 20 0C. Mean annual winter temperatures range from +5 °C to –5 °C in coastal regions; in eastern regions temperatures do not exceed –15 0C in winter, and rise to +30 °C in summer. The mean annual rainfall levels of Latvia are rather diverse: 550 – 600 mm average. Rainfall is generally higher in hilly regions, with slopes facing moist air masses: in the western slopes of Vidzeme Upland (700-800 mm), and western slopes of Kurzeme Upland (650-700 mm), while rainfall decreases on eastern slopes.
Much of the rain (70 %) falls in April - October. Maximum rainfall (>100 mm) occurs in August. Rainfall is lower in spring. Precipitation, as constant snow cover, occurs in December 30-January 5, but already from December 15 in eastern regions. Early March is the beginning of snow melting in Western Latvia; in the eastern regions it occurs in late March, and in early April in the regions of Vidzeme Central Upland. The thickness of the snow blanket exceeds 30 cm in the most part of the territory of Latvia; in eastern regions with hilly topography the snow cover is 40-50 cm deep. The soil is frozen 20-30 cm under the snow cover in coastal regions; the depth of frozen soil exceeds 40 cm in central regions, and in eastern regions its depth ranges from 40 to 60 cm. The depth of frozen soil layer may exceed 1 metre in extremely severe winters; in eastern regions it is up to 1.20 metres deep. Westerly and south-westerly winds prevail in Latvia, although other winds may occur between years and seasons as well. The strength of the winds is insignificant: 2-5 m/s., but in autumns may exceed 35 m/s. and 20 m/s. in coastal regions and inland, respectively. The vegetation growth period starts in April, when average daily temperature reaches 5 oC. Intensive crop growing starts with the active vegetation period. This earliest possible date for this period is May 5 and is common for South-East Latvia, and the latest – for Kurzeme coastal line due to the cooling influence of the Baltic Sea. River basins and surface water resources. Depending on physical and geographical conditions, a large part of the river discharge comes from either snow melt, groundwater or direct surface runoff. About 50-55% of the waters of the Daugava, Venta, Lielupe and Musa rivers is melted snow, while for the Gauja and Amata rivers it is 35-40%. About 10-20% of the flow of some tributaries of the Lielupe (Memele and Svete) and the Aiviekste tributary of the Daugava is fed by groundwater, while for the Daugava and Gauja rivers it is 35-40%. In the Kurzeme peninsula and in the middle uplands, direct surface runoff accounts for 40% of flow of the rivers, while in the Zemgales plain it represents 20-30%. The Daugava basin has a total area of 87 900 km2, of which 28% is located in Latvia. The Daugava River rises in the Russian Federation, flows through Belarus (where it is called the Western Dvina), enters Latvia in the southeast and flows northwest to the Gulf of Riga. Several tributaries enter the Daugava River inside Latvian territory, including four large ones: Ogre, Aiviekste, Dubna and Rezekne.
The Gauja basin has a total area of 8 900 km2, of which 88% is in Latvia. The Gauja River rises in the Vidzeme upland and flows east, then turns northwest, becomes the border between Latvia and Estonia for a short distance, and then flows southwest to the Gulf of Riga. The Salaca basin covers the north of the country, near the border with Estonia. Its total area is 3 600 km2, of which 92% is located in Latvia. The Salaca River rises in Lake Burtnieks in the north and flows west to the Gulf of Riga. The Lielupe basin has a total area of 17 600 km2, of which 50% is situated in Latvia. The Lielupe River rises in Lithuania, enters Latvia in the south and flows north to the Gulf of Riga through the most fertile regions of the country. It has many tributaries, the most important being the Memela, Jecava and Svete. The Venta basin has a total area of 11 800 km2, of which 67% is situated in Latvia. The Venta River rises in Lithuania, enters Latvia in the southwest and flows north through the Kurzeme lowland to the Baltic Sea. The Venta has many tributaries, but only one of them, the Abava River, exceeds 100 km in length. The coastal basins between Lithuania and the Venta have a total area of 5 100 km2. This area includes rivers such as the Barta, Durba, Riva and Uzava, which flow to the Baltic Sea. The basins within the coastal lowland, on the opposite shores of the Gulf of Riga have a combined area of 3 800 km2. This area includes rivers such as the Irbe, Stonde, Roja, Svetupe and Vitupe. The Velika basin consists of a number of smaller rivers flowing into the Velika in the Russian Federation. Its area within Latvia is 3 200 km2. The total discharge of the Velika amounts to 4.2 km3/year, of which 16% is generated within Latvia. Lakes. There are about 2 250 lakes with a total area of about 850 km2. About 36% of them are located in the Latgales upland in the southeast of the country.
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| 4. RUMINANT LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
Cattle
numbers and average productivity: historically the dairy sector has always been a priority
agricultural sector in During the last 10 years during transition to the market economy there was a significant downturn in milk production which affected both the volume of milk production and the structure of dairy farms. In recent years, however, a trend to medium-sized dairy farms with 15-100 cows and modern technology has become quite apparent. The number of cows (Table 4.1) and the overall milk production level have stabilised in recent years. Thus the average productivity of dairy cows in the reference period (2001-2003) was comparatively stable reaching the level of 4 261 kg per cow in 2003 (Table 4.2).
According to the data of the Latvian State Domestic
Animal Pedigree Information Data Processing Centre (SPDPC),
until 1 January 2004, there were 389 639 cattle registered in
The dairy herd is mostly composed of Latvian brown cows – 70 % of the recorded cows with average milk-yield of 4 550 kg from a cow per year (Table 4.3). The Holstein cows constitute 15.6 % of the total number of the recorded cows. Analysing the data regarding the results of 2003 by breed cross-section, according to the SPDPC data, in the group of red breed cows the Angler has had the best indices with an average milk-yield of 5 515 kg, content of milk fats 3,23 % but this breed constitutes a negligible amount of the total recorded herds. The
introduction of the milk quota system, a fundamental basis for the
Common Market Organisation in the dairy sector, is based on the information
drawn from the milk producers' register, which will help remodel the
milk market of Beef and veal production
Beef and veal amounts to 29.8 % of the meat produced. According to the data, the amount of the meat produced and consumed in 2003 has increased. The amount of carcass weight has increased by 1.3 times, but the consumption by 1.1 times. In relation
to pork, the consumption of beef in
Meat production mainly takes place in farms, household plots and private subsidiary holdings. The structure of beef producing farms is still fragmented, but the number of holdings with more than 500 animals is increasing. Sheep and Goats
The production of mutton and goat meat is best suited to small farms. There is a demand for lamb the live weight of which is 35 – 50 kg. Goats in
Horses
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