Sweden
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| AGRICULTURE |
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Sweden extends over 1574 km from North to South and 499 km from East to West and covers a total surface of 449 964 km ². The areas under cultivation account for more than 6 % of the total surface of the country, whereas the farming sector employs 2.5 % of the working population.
The forest covers more than half of the territory and forestry is often an additional activity for Swedish farmers, since it allows them to have a more steady financial situation.
The new agricultural policy implemented recommands: to offer a product diversification to consumers while maintaining price stability, to guarantee food supply of Sweden in time of crisis, to protect the richness and variety of the rural sector. As far as fishing is concerns, it holds a good position even though fresh water fishing remains marginal compared to industrial fishing.
Today, like The United Kingdom, Sweden would like a reform of the Common Agricultural Policy for more competitiveness.
Agricultural population (in thousands)
Total population
8 886
Agricultural population
275
Non agricultural population
8 611
Source : 2004, FAOSTAT
Land use
Cultivated surface area
3 166 000
Irrigated surface area
115 000
Number of farms
75 810
Number of tractors
165 000
Source : 2003, FAOSTAT
Production indicators
Main crops
| Product | Production (in thousands) | Harvested surface (1000 ha) | Yield by hectare (kg/ha) |
| Sugar beet | 2381 | 49 | 48416 |
| Wheat | 2247 | 367 | 6123 |
| Barley | 1593 | 421 | 3781 |
| Potatoes | 947 | 30 | 31107 |
| Oats | 746 | 193 | 3860 |
Source : 2005, FAOSTAT
Livestock
| Specie | Headcount (in thousands) |
| Chickens | 6762 |
| Pigs | 1811 |
| Cattle | 1605 |
| Sheep | 471 |
| Turkeys | 200 |
Source : 2005, FAOSTAT
Fishing (in metric tons)
| Shellfish, mollusks and cephalopods | Saltwater fish | Freshwater fish |
| 4 582 | 248 234 | 711 |
Source : 2005, FAOSTAT