Agricultural news week 14

First results of the Polish Agricultural Census

There are 1 million 317 thousand people in Poland. farms - it is approx. 13% (approx. 190 thousand) less than in 2010. The Central Statistical Office informed on Wednesday about the preliminary results of the 2020 General Agricultural Census.

The last census of this type took place in 2010, so the data from the current census are compared to those from 10 years ago. The Central Statistical Office observed a stronger specialization of farms, a progressive concentration of agricultural production, e.g. increasing the number of farms and reducing the size of farms, with a similar arable land area.

Despite the decreasing number of farms, their area is growing. According to the census data, it increased to 11.1 ha from 9.8 ha in 2010 (+ 13%). The number of farms with an area of ​​up to 15 ha of agricultural land decreased by 16%, while the number of farms exceeding 15 ha increased by 6%.

The CSO informed that the structure of farms had slightly improved. The share of the smallest agricultural land with an area of ​​up to 5 ha decreased from 54% in 2010 to 52.5% in 2020. At the same time, the share of agricultural land with an area of ​​15 ha and more increased from 13 to 15.8%.

According to the preliminary results of the 2020 census, the total agricultural area of ​​agricultural holdings amounted to approx. 14 637 thousand hectares. ha and for 10 years it decreased by approx. 200 thous. ha (1.5%).
The average farm size in France is 60.9 ha, in Germany 60.6 ha, in the Netherlands 32.3 ha and in Spain 24.6 ha. According to economist Jakub Olipra, taking into account the current pace of change, it may take decades to catch up, if at all.
-Currently, many people who own small farms simply do not pay off to give up their business, e.g. due to the favorable taxation method or the preferential pension system, comments Olipra.

Source: GUS, Agropolska, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna

Apple stocks in Poland

In March 2021 apple stock in Poland amounted 837 thousand tons. This means that the demand for Polish apples is lower than a year ago.
From the beginning of December '20 to the end of February '21, domestic stocks decreased by 56%, while in the same period last year they decreased by 78%.

This is confirmed by data on foreign sales. According to Eurostat, the export of apples from Poland in the period July '20-January '21 in terms of volume decreased by 18.1%. And this despite the greater domestic supply (production growth by 10%) and the weakening of the Polish zloty in recent months, which is favorable for exports. The value of exports also decreased by 19.4% compared to the previous season. Particular attention is paid to the much lower sales of apples to Belarus (42%!), which was not compensated by significantly greater shipments of apples to the European Union countries.

A higher level of apple stocks means a drop in prices.

Source: SadyOgrody.pl

Sales of ornamentals around Easter

Easter usually stimulates the sale of ornamental plants in Poland. The increase in sales concerns the occasional yellow narcissus and tulips, but also the trade in pansies and other early spring plants.

Just before Easter, a lockdown was introduced in Poland, which concerned, among others, large-area supermarkets from the segment "Home and Garden", which constitute a significant part of the market and are a sales channel for a large part of domestic ornamental plants, especially seasonal ones - primroses, pansies, daisies, etc. Those retailers could organize selling points outside, but the area of these departments and the number of customers allowed to buy at the same time were very limited.

The sale of plants is still carried out in supermarkets and food discount stores, although these are of less importance and are mainly focused on cut bulb flowers. Also garden centers and florists (operating outside shopping malls) could operate, although the latter are struggling with the global increase in flower prices, and with the reduced number of customers as a result of coronavirus restrictions.

Source: PodOsłonami.pl