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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
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