Aleksandra Jezierska-Thöle

Agrarian-Economic Structure of Agricultural Holdings in Poland and East Germany: Selected Elements of Comparative Analysis

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine differences in the development of farms in Poland against the agriculture of East Germany, and to show areas with similar conditions for development. The time range of the research covered the years 2002-2010, i.e. the stage of preparation of Polish agriculture for accession to the European Union, the implementation of pre-accession aid programmes, and the establishment and implementation of the tools of the Common Agricultural Policy. To assess the level of agricultural development, natural, productive and social characteristics were adopted. Spatial variations in the analysed features were based on the variation coefficient (Vz), and the level of agricultural development, on Perkal’s index (Wi). In the analysed period the range of variation and the degree of the spatial dispersion of sub-indices changed, indicating a deepening of the polarisation processes in agriculture. The implementation of CAP intensified the process of specialisation and modernisation in agriculture, an example of which is the increase in the average farm size and in agricultural productivity. On the other hand, agricultural production intensified, as exemplified by a decrease in the minimum value in six of the analysed characteristics, which indicates growing disparities.

Former political borders and their impact on the evolution of the present-day spatial structure of agriculture in Poland

The paper deals with the results of an analysis of the spatial structure of agriculture in Poland which was aimed at assessing the impact of the historical factor. The territory of present-day Poland includes the political borders of the 19th and 20th centuries which divided the area into two parts: western (Kingdom of Prussia and the land belonging to Poland and Germany in the interwar period) and eastern (the land of the Russian Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire which later belonged to Poland in the interwar period). The historical factor and its impact were examined also in the comparative analysis of two adjoining stretches of land accepted as territorial units (East Poland and West Poland). We showed that historical borders constitute an important element affecting the evolution of the spatial structure of Polish agriculture. The impact of the historical factor was shown to be the strongest for the differences in the features associated with agrarian structure, rural socio-demography, and productivity and profitability of agricultural holdings.

Impact of EU funds on current status and prospects of organic farming in Poland

The analysis of the status of organic farms in Poland in the period of 2003-2016 showed an increase in both the number and the acreage of agricultural holdings. As of 2004, high dynamics of growth was observed, which was related to Poland’s accession to the EU and implementation of the CAP and the national Environmental Management Scheme. The aim of this paper is to present growth tendencies in and aid measures for organic farming. The analysis demonstrates the dynamics in the number organic farms and the acreage of organic crops on the basis of the data of the Central Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection (GIJHARS) and the Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture (ARMA). The conclusions that can be drawn from the studies demonstrate that the development of organic farming is highly dependent on the amount of EU funds. Financial support coming from the budget of the European Community is effectuated through consecutive RDP editions (2004-2006, 2007-2013 and 2014-2020). The dynamics of growth in organic farming during the CAP implementation stage indicates that the level of support from the EU is the major determinant of growth in organic farming in Poland. The period of 2003-2016 was characterized by a ten-fold increase in the number of organic farms (from 2.286 to 23.375) and the acreage of organic crops (from 61.2 thousand ha to 537 thousand ha).

Current Status and Prospects for Organic Agriculture in Poland

Abstract Organic farming is part of a sustainable development model; at the same time it is becoming a prerequisite for the multifunctional development of rural areas. The main aim of this study is to identify the state and analyse changes in the development of organic agriculture in Poland as well as to present the possibilities for its development. The time horizon of the study covers the years 2003 to 2015. The basis of the research was an analysis of the literature, the Report of the Chief Inspectorate of Trade Quality of Agriculture and Food (IJHARS), and national empirical research; it also includes an analysis of the results of surveys carried out on organic farms in the summer of 2016, as well as our own observations. The study showed that in the years 2003-2015 Poland saw a rapid increase in the number and area of organic farms due in part to the introduction of EU subsidies. Spatial analysis of the proportions of farms by voivodeship shows that in 2015 most were recorded in Warmia-Mazuria, Podlasie and West Pomerania. Similar to the increase in the number of organic farms, the years 2003-2015 saw an increased area of organic farmland. Poland is second in the world in terms of growth in the area of organic farms. In the years 2003-2014 the average size of an organic farm remained at about 25 ha and was higher than the average size of conventional farms (10 ha). In 2014 the crop structure was dominated by fodder plants (35.8%), and meadows and pastures (31.5%). In terms of livestock production, cattle and horses had the biggest share.

Zmiany struktury funkcjonalnej gmin wiejskich w północnej części Polski (analiza porównawcza lat 1988 i 2012) = Changes in the functional structure of rural municipalities in the northern part of Poland in the years 1988 and 2012

The issue of transformation in the functional structure of rural areas in Poland has been the subject of numerous studies covering both the research concerning entire country as well as selected regions. This article is an attempt to show the functional changes of rural municipalities in northern Poland, which took place in the period between 1988 and 2012. The analysis covered rural municipalities of the Warminsko-mazurskie, Pomorskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie and Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeships. The condition of functional development of rural areas of northern Poland in 1988 was presented basing on the functional and spatial classification applied by W. Stola. In order to analyze the functional and spatial changes in the rural areas of northern Poland in 2012, data from the Central Statistical Office was used. Classification of functional areas on a municipal scale was implemented incorporating a set of diagnostic features classifying a given municipality to one of the 5 functional types referring to the classification of 1988. Results of the analysis prove that spatial and functional structure of rural areas in northern Poland is becoming more differentiated. Rural areas are increasingly evolving into multifunctional areas – in which apart from the agricultural function - non-agricultural activities are developing. However, it is very important that the multifunctional development would contribute to improving living conditions of rural population, at the same time providing protection of natural and cultural landscape.