agriculture and food economy in poland

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Traditionally, as every year before the
International POLAGRA-FARM and POLAGRA-
FOOD Fairs, which are jubilee events organised
for 20th time this year, I am presenting to you the publication “Agriculture and
Food Economy in Poland” giving a realistic picture of Polish agriculture, food
processing industry and agricultural institutions.
The publication supplements the practical presentation of the achievements
of Polish farmers and processing plants at the POLAGRA Fair.
This year’s publication is of particular importance. It is issued several
months after Poland’s accession to the European Union. As from 1 May 2004
Poland has been a member of a new, enlarged European Union composed of
25 states inhabited by 455 million people.
The first few months following accession and experience gained in this
period in the European Community enable us to state that pessimistic
forecasts of European integration opponents have not come true. They
envisaged the flooding of the Polish market with cheap, subsidised food
products from the EU, the holding up of Polish exports due to lack of
adjustments in the Polish food processing sector and the absence of tangible
benefits deriving from the support of Polish agriculture from the EU funds.
As we already know, exquisite taste and quality of our products, as
confirmed by the certificates of compliance with sanitary, veterinary and
quality requirements obtained by 1700 food processing establishments, have
been greatly appreciated by consumers in the enlarged EU. Our food is
becoming better known, appreciated and sought for. The abolition of tariff
barriers is conducive to Polish agri-food exports, which has impact on
improvement of foreign trade balance of these products.
Despite little support for Polish agriculture, according to OECD equal to 9%
of the final production in 2003 compared to an average of 37% for the
European Union 15 member states, Polish products, beside health and quality
values associated with the clean environment and a low usage of agrochemicals,
are characterised by lower prices. For many years now this has