Belgians are trading increasingly smaller plots of land

The agricultural land that was traded in Belgium in 2019 has a smaller surface area than in the previous year, according to the Notary barometer agricultural land of the Federation of Notaries (Fednot). This continues the trend of recent years: the average surface area of ​​traded Belgian agricultural land is now more than 20% smaller than 5 years ago.

In Belgium, an average area of ​​2019 hectares was traded in 1,1, a decrease of 7,3% compared to 2018. The figures in the report of the Federation of Notaries show that this continues the trend of recent years: between 2015 and 2019, the average area of ​​traded agricultural land in the country decreased by 20,8%. In short: 1 traded parcel was on average one fifth smaller than five years ago.

Fragmentation
The fact that increasingly smaller pieces of land are traded in the transactions of agricultural land is partly due to fragmentation as a result of death and inheritance. "In the past, the agricultural company was seen as an economically valuable thing. There was therefore always a child in the family to take over the company, including the loose pieces of land. As a result, the company remained intact," explains Anthony Wittesaele, civil-law notary. Tielt, come on. "Although the company is often still taken over, it is now also the case that the loose pieces of land are divided among the rest of the children. They then lease or sell this."

A second reason for the decrease in the average surface area of ​​traded land is that the larger companies in Belgium (particularly as a result of legislation) need more and more land in order to continue to operate profitably. "They buy or lease small pieces of land adjacent to their company, for example from the above-mentioned 'children'." Finally, the decrease may be due to the fact that pieces of land are increasingly being divided up. "For example, because the municipality or province wants to build a bicycle path."

Largest parcels traded in Wallonia
If we look at the figures in Wallonia and Flanders, then clearly that the largest parcels are traded in Wallonia. The average traded area in that region is 1,3 hectares, although this is 9,5% smaller than in 2018. Over the past 5 years, the traded area in Wallonia has decreased by no less than 27,5%. In particular, the Walloon provinces of Namur (-24,5% to 1,4 hectares) and Liège (-14,4% to 1,2 hectares) stand out.

In Flanders, the traded area of ​​agricultural land is on average 1,0 hectare, which is 6,4% smaller than last year. Over the past 5 years, a decrease of 17,6% is even visible. In Flanders, the largest percentage decrease is attributable to Antwerp. In that region, the area decreased by 10,1% last year to 0,9 hectares. In contrast, the provinces of East Flanders and Flemish Brabant show increases: +2,4% and +6,0%.

There is another region that catches the eye: Luxembourg. An increase is visible in that region (+6,5% to 1,5 hectares). "Wallonia and Flanders both have a different attitude to agriculture. Towards the south of Wallonia, an agricultural economy is still noticeable. This means that the companies are often still completely taken over, just like in the past. A fragmentation of agricultural land is therefore less likely here." expected."

Kimberly Baker

Kimberly Bakker is an all-round editor at Boerenbusiness. She also has an eye for the social media channels of Boerenbusiness.

k.baker @boerenbusiness. Nl

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