Analysis of the Performance of Organic Farms in Poland in 2005–2020

The objective of the present work is to evaluate the performance of organic farms, their production potential, the size of crop and livestock production and the opportunities for their development in Poland in the years 2005–2020. The work draws on statistical data published by the Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection (IJHARS) from the years 2005–2021. The data was characterised by calculating the dynamics index. Moreover, 18 organic farms located in the Mazowieckie Voivodship were surveyed. The primary data was collected using the direct interview method at the end of 2020. The results were used to calculate the number and percentage of organic farms. In the studied period, that is in the years 2005–2020, a variety of changes took place in organic farming in Poland. Until 2013, there occurred a steady increase in the number and area of organic farms. From 2014 to 2020, the number dropped by 30% whereas the organically farmed area decreased by 24%. What is more, a decline in the number of medium-sized farms (5–20 ha) was accompanied by a rise in the number of larger farms (whose area exceeded 20 ha). There were also noticeable changes in the structure of land use, organic production being abandoned in grasslands (meadows and pastures) in favour of cereals and other crops, orchards, berries and field vegetables. In the years 2005–2020, there was a positive trend of growing numbers of livestock, that is dairy cows, sheep, goats, it being particularly high for young beef cattle and laying hens. By contrast, a decline was observed in the number of fattening swine. The causes of the declining numbers of organic farms and organically managed area are economic in character and include scattered production, difficulties with selling organic products, strong reliance of organic production, animal production in particular, on public support, high costs and low profitability of this type of agricultural activity and low incomes earned by organic farms. The future performance of organic holdings and the development of this type of agriculture will be conditioned by both economic and organisational factors, as well as sufficient support of organic production, integration and cooperation among entities operating in this sector, well organised market as well as availability and promotion of organic products, which will hopefully increase demand on and marketisation of this production. It is important that organic farms should rely on balance between crop and livestock production so as to expand mixed production, which, in turn, will let them gain competitive advantage and become part of the concept of sustainable development.