agriculture and food economy in poland

The number of organic farms has been continuously going up; in 2003 it
increased by 15.6% on the previous year. Nevertheless, the number of organic farms
in Poland remains small, considering that nearly all its soils meet high
environmental requirements, i.e. they are not polluted with heavy metals and other
industrial pollutants as well as fertilisers and pesticides.
Population and human resources in agriculture
According to the General Population and Housing Census and the Agricultural
Census, conducted in 2002, 10 474 500 people, i.e. 27.4% of Poland’s population,
lived in households connected with a farm (area of more than 10 ares) user. Eighty
per cent or 8 504 900 people were inhabitants of rural areas. This implies that
58.2% of the total rural population was connected with farming through a common
household.
As compared to the results of the 1996 General Agricultural Census, the number
of people in agricultural holdings fell by 1 084 700 or 9.4%. The number of persons
living off work in agricultural holdings is constantly decreasing, whereas that of
people maintained by farmers or with non-gainful sources of income (mainly old age
and disability pensions) is increasing.
As regards the education level, the situation improved, though the number of
people with tertiary, post-secondary or secondary education is much lower in rural
areas and the farming sector than in towns.
Compared to the EU-15 average, the structure of agricultural holding users in
Poland is more favourable.
Figure 15. Structure of agricultural holding users in the EU and in Poland (%)
13,3
12,3
56,8
AGRICULTURE
Poland UE
17,5
Source: GUS and FAPA (data for the EU – 1993, for Poland – 2002)
25
24,9
28,3
up tp 35 36-54 55-64 >65
years years years years
8,7
38,1