THE REPRIVATIZATION OF FARMING IN EASTERN GERMANY

The unification of Germany has far-reaching consequences for the agricultural sector in the former GDR. This paper begins with a comparison of the development of the agricultural sector in Eastern and Western Germany. While East German agriculture was radically reformed after 1945 with the enforced collectivization of farms, agriculture in the western zones was characterized by a slow process of structural change. The specific problems of each agricultural system are described. After unification the German government exerted strong pressure on the collective farms, aiming at their dissolution. The guiding image of agricultural policy was based on the independent family farm. The author presents the results of several surveys to demonstrate that the majority of collective farmers prefers to continue some form of co-operative agriculture. Apart from lack of capital and other resources, they are hesitant to give up social security. The lack of political and social concern for the specific problems of ex-GDR farmers has caused an immense crisis in agriculture. The agricultural workforce is declining drastically and output of farm production has decreased in all sectors.