Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture No. 1/07
Analysing variation in Russian dairy farms, 1990-2001
Irina Bezlepkina, Ruud Huirne, Alfons Oude Lansink and Arie
Oskam
Wageningen University, the Netherlands
Abstract
Although Russian dairy enterprises underwent dramatic changes during
the period 1990-2001, little is known about the situation of these
enterprises under the new conditions. This study examined a sample
group of dairy enterprises in the Moscow region to try to identify
similarities and differences in historical background, performance, and
managerial and structural characteristics. A farm-level data set from
1990-2001 was used. Assessment of historical characteristics revealed
that the most successful enterprises were those that had already shown
better economic performance in pre-reform years. For the period
studied, these farms also had smaller percentages of reduced resources,
no major debt problems, and better overall management.
Keywords: agriculture, performance, dairy, transition, Russia
JEL: Q 010
Vol. 46 (2007), No. 1: 5-21