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Trends and forecasts The impact of the EU membership on the Polish agricultural sector Poland’s accession to the EU in 2004 meant an important change in the economic conditions of production for Poland’s agriculture. The methods of support for this sector as well as the range and conditions of intervention on basic agricultural markets were changed. Thanks to EU support, Polish rural areas become more and more beautiful At this time new possibilities for taking advantage of export subsidies were introduced and barriers to foreign trade of agricultural and food products with EU countries were removed. New forms of the support for agriculture in form of direct payments and structure funds were implemented. Farmers as a social group were able to use fastest European Community support and highlighted the importance as an asset agriculture is as a sector. The well prepared Polish agriculture ready to face competition on a single European market enabled Polish products not only to have access to the vast European market, but improved the competitiveness of the whole agricultural sector as well. Over the last decade, adjustments of the sector to extremely high standard requirements of the European Union were conducted in various areas. The most costly and complicated was to fulfil the standards in the production and processing of animal products, veterinary, meat processing and in dairying. The adjustment to EU standards enabled these products not only to access the Single Market but improved the general competitive position of Polish agriculture. The EU support programmes – Phare and SAPARD created the opportunity to speed up the introduction of necessary changes and improve the competitiveness while still in a preaccession period. The SAPARD programme was the first EU program to support the development of agriculture and rural areas in Poland. Further programmes for the agricultural and food industry were effectively implemented after Poland’s accession to the EU, and included the Sectoral Operational Programme for 2004- 2006, the Rural Development Plan 2004-2006 and the Rural Development Plan 2007-2013. These directed significant funds to the sector and supported the further development and modernisation of Polish agriculture, its food industries and rural areas. 18 Autumn 2011
Trends and forecasts Number of holdings and agrarian structure The period after Poland’s accession to the EU (i.e. after 2004) was characterised by a decrease in the overall number of agricultural holdings. In particular a significant decrease in the number of the smallest holdings of less than 1 ha. According to the data method of the Central Statistical Office, in 2009, the overall number of agricultural holdings in Poland was more than 2.5 million. In comparison to 2003, their number had decreased by 12.1%. The largest group (40.4%) included agricultural holdings with an utilised land of 1-5 ha. Small holdings play relatively less significant role in terms of productivity, but they are very important for providing environmental and social functions, however, the profitability of their production is low. In 2009, the number of agricultural holdings in the group of up to 10 ha area also decreased, whereas it increased in the remaining statistical groups. It shows a decrease in the number of holdings of the smallest land group (up to 1 ha) by 5.5%, and an increase in the holdings of 10-30 ha (by 1.6%), 30-50 ha (by 0.3%) and 50-100 ha (by 0.2%). In view of these changes to the agrarian structure, the initial results of the National Agriculture Census of 2010 are worth examining. According to this Census, the number of agricultural holdings of more than 1 ha agrarian land amounts to 1,583,000. This in comparison to the previous census of 2002, shows a decrease of 373,000 holdings, (i.e. by 19.1%). The most significant decrease in the number of agricultural holdings (by 22.7% in comparison to 2002) was recorded among the smallest holdings of 1-5 ha of utilised land, the number of the largest holdings grew significantly: in the group of 30-50 ha of arable land by 11.0%, and in the group of more than 50 ha by 28.8%. The larger farms hold an important position in overall production and their most important challenge, in the future, will be to further increase their competitiveness, continue to be innovative and also now adjust to production under changing environmental conditions and higher animal welfare standards. The initial results of the Census from 2010 indicates also that the average area of an agricultural holding of more than 1ha of arable land now amounts to 9.5 ha, which indicates an increase of 13% in comparison to 2002. Employment in the rural areas The early years of Polish membership of the EU coincided with a very good economic climate. This was reflected in a high employment rate, a lower unemployment rate as well as an acceleration of the process of moving away from semi subsistence agriculture. Additionally, Poland’s accession to the EU resulted in a significant increase in the labour migration, which positively influenced the Polish labour market, especially agricultural. From 2003 there has been important change on the local labour market in rural areas. In 2009, the unemployment rate in rural areas was 8.0%, which indicated, in comparison to 2003, a decrease of 9.8%. Urban migration was the main reason for changes in employment in the rural areas. Urban migration was a trend first analysed in 2000 when an inflow of people from the rural areas was higher than the outflow to cities, was maintained. In 2009, over 41,000 people, across the country, moved from cities to the countryside. Prices of the agricultural land There were dynamic changes on the agricultural property market noted after Poland’s accession to the EU in 2004. The agricultural land market in Poland can be divided into two segments: the first relates to the trade in private agricultural land, and the second the privatisation of state land which is sold and leased by the Agricultural Property Agency (APA). At UE funds allowed to modernise equipment of Polish holdings Autumn 2011 19
Page 4 and 5: Contents 4 The statement of Marek S
Page 6 and 7: Marek Sawicki Minister of Agricultu
Page 8 and 9: Participants in the informal meetin
Page 10 and 11: Polish Presidency in the EU Meeting
Page 12 and 13: Polish Presidency in the EU Substan
Page 14 and 15: Polish Presidency in the EU Confere
Page 16 and 17: Polish Presidency in the EU The RES
Page 18 and 19: Polish Presidency in the EU Interna
Page 22 and 23: Trends and forecasts Polish process
Page 24 and 25: Trends and forecasts agricultural a
Page 26 and 27: Trends and forecasts Polish fresh f
Page 28 and 29: Trends and forecasts Number of catt
Page 30 and 31: Promotion of Polish food “Once ag
Page 32 and 33: Promotion of Polish food “Jabłka
Page 34 and 35: Producers - Exporters PDŻ mark - t
Page 36 and 37: Producers - Exporters and spices, f
Page 38 and 39: Food safety Beef? With pleasure! Di
Page 40 and 41: Food safety QMP culinary beef taste
Page 42 and 43: Production and food processing Beef
Page 44 and 45: Production and food processing “
Page 46 and 47: Production and food processing Cust
Page 48 and 49: Science and technology 2 nd Congres
Page 50 and 51: Science and technology Minister Saw
Page 52 and 53: Science and technology The conferen
Page 54 and 55: Poland tastes Unforgettable holiday
Page 56 and 57: Poland tastes Kozłówka Palace one
Page 58 and 59: 56 56 Autumn 2011
Page 60 and 61: Traditional Polish cuisine Delicaci
Page 62 and 63: Traditional Polish cuisine Sauerkra

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