Economic Efficiency of Investments in Agricultural Land

Introduction

Agriculture of the Republic of Serbia is faced with many challenges. Increases in food prices have not only raised awareness of the urgency to increase agricultural investment, but they have also created opportunities for profitable investments. In such circumstances, a well-designed development policy plays an important role. In this regard, a special attention must be paid to the family farms as strategic holders of agriculture production. The main objective of their business operations in the market economy is to achieve a profitable production. The achievement of this goal necessarily follows an intensive investment activity directed at improving conditions for agricultural production. Bearing in mindpreparation of the Republic of Serbia for European integrations and the obligations that the process of association carries, it is quite probable that the investment planning in the market economy becomes highly significant in the future, especially for those subjects involved in the implementation of measures to support the development of agriculture on family farms. The growing need for a long-term investment on family farms in order to allow of much-needed improvements in their business performance and accelerate the adaptation to market economy typical for EU's farm, is evident. However, the possibility of self-financing in Serbian agriculture is very small, primarily due to lower rate of surplus value caused by lower labour productivity (Božić, Munćan, & Bogdanov, 2009). On the other hand, agrarian economy of transition countries, to which the Republic of Serbia belongs, is faced with the capital lack problem for investment needs as well as structural adjustment torequirements necessary as an imperative during preparation period for European integrations. This problem has been especially acute within the Central and Eastern European agricultural sector (Dries & Swinnen, 2004). Budget constraint has been found to be an important factor limiting farms’ use of inputs not only in developing countries, but also in developed economies (Bhattacharyya & Kumbhakar, 1997; Blancard, Boussemart, Briec, & Kerstens, 2006; Färe, Grosskopf, & Lee, 1990; Heltberg, 1998; Lee & Chambers, 1986). Financial constraints and credit market imperfections are a major constraint on investment, growth and poverty reduction in transition and developing countries (Dries & Swinnen, 2010). In the situation when available investment capital is lacking, while the needs for the capital are significant, it is very important to direct properly existing financial resources towards those purposes and projects where the highest investment economic effectiveness could be achieved (Vasiljević, Sredojević, & Ćejvanović, 2006).