THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE FROM AREAS WITH ESPECIALLY UNFAVORABLE NATURAL CONDITIONS IN POLAND IN THE CONTEXT OF THE EUROPEAN GREEN DEAL

Abstract

The aim of the study is to characterize agriculture in areas (communes) with particularly unfavorable natural conditions for farming, as well as to assess the production potential, organization of production and economic situation of farms from such areas in Poland. The first part of the study describes the characteristics of agriculture in communes with particularly unfavorable natural conditions. For this purpose, data from the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation in Puławy, on the average value of the index of Valorization of Agricultural Production Area (VAPA) in communes in Poland, was used. Communes with particularly unfavorable natural conditions were those with an average VAPA index below 52 points out of 120 possible points. The organizational and economic assessment of farms according to production types was also carried out: field crops, grazing animals, and farms with mixed plant-animal production in communes with an average VAPA index lower than 52 points against a background of similar farms from other communes that have continuously kept accounting for Polish FADN in 2017-2019. It was found that communes with unfavorable natural conditions, compared to other communes, were distinguished by a smaller average utilized agricultural area (UAA) on farms, a smaller share of arable land and a greater permanent grassland in UAA, as well as e.g., a lower share of wheat and rape in total and higher total rye in the crop structure. They had, however, a greater share of land used ecologically in total UAA. They also had a higher density of livestock per 1 ha of UAA. In turn, farms from these areas – regardless of the analyzed production type, as compared to other farms, were characterized by a smaller UAA, incurred lower labor input per farm, and had a lower capital value. They also had significantly lower land and labor productivity as well as income per 1 FWU.