Minister Krajewski highlights support for farmers and stronger agricultural resilience.
After his first year in office, Poland’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Stefan Krajewski has highlighted a broad package of measures aimed at strengthening farm incomes, improving the competitiveness and resilience of Polish agriculture (including opening foreign markets for Polish agricultural products), and simplifying administrative procedures for farmers. The Ministry points to legislative changes, new and continued financial support schemes, measures targeting the livestock and crop sectors, and a firm stance on protecting the interests of Polish agriculture in EU trade policy.
Strengthening the position of Polish farmers
During the first year of his leadership, Mr. Krajewski focused on measures intended to provide farmers with greater economic stability while protecting Poland’s agricultural resources.
One of the measures highlighted by the Ministry is the extension, by another ten years, of the ban on the sale of state-owned agricultural land. The objective is to strengthen the protection of Poland’s strategic agricultural land resources.
The Ministry has also introduced a number of changes aimed at reducing administrative burdens. At the request of livestock breeders, for example, the minimum calving interval for cattle recorded in the IRZ Plus system was reduced from 320 to 300 days as of 23 September 2025.
Rules governing the use of drones in plant protection have also been simplified, while new provisions have facilitated the qualification for stunning cattle and cervids on pastures using firearms, as part of the so-called “pasture slaughter” system.
Strong position of Polish agriculture products made it possible to extend export to new markets like Philippines, South Korea and Japan. The Minister other third country markets follow enabling further growth in meat, eggs and other agriculture products export.
Faster access to support and improved financial liquidity
Another area of focus has been improving farmers’ access to financial support.
Amendments to the Act on Agricultural Property Funds introduced a second, summer application period, running from 1 July to 31 August. According to the Ministry, this should allow agricultural producers to receive payments by 30 November, providing faster access to funds and improving farm liquidity.
The maximum level of support available to agricultural producer groups has also been increased sixfold, from €50,000 to €300,000 over a three-year period.
Changes have likewise been introduced in agricultural insurance. The Ministry reports that the rules for crop insurance have been simplified and the range of crops covered expanded, with the aim of making insurance more accessible and affordable. New financing options are also planned, including preferential loans with guarantees and interest subsidies, financed from the Rural Development Program 2014–2020.
At the same time, cooperation with the Ministry of Health has resulted in new, stricter rules concerning residues of active substances from plant protection products in food.
Targeted support for the pig sector
The pig sector remains one of the areas receiving particular attention.
In cooperation with the European Commission, the government plans to launch a support program worth PLN 500 million (about € 125 million) for pig producers. The Ministry has also announced subsidies for the purchase of breeding gilts and support for high-performance sows, with the broader objective of rebuilding Poland’s domestic production capacity.
Under the announced scheme, a subsidy of PLN 2,000 (€ 500) would be available for the purchase of a breeding gilt, paid in two instalments: PLN 500 (€ 125) for the purchase and PLN 1,500 (€ 375) after the first farrowing.
A second form of support would provide PLN 1,000 (€250) for each registered sow owned by agricultural producers whose animals are, or will be, registered in the ARiMR identification and registration system.
The program has not yet officially started, and detailed rules are still awaited.
Fertilizer subsidies in response to rising input costs
The Ministry has also announced a fertilizer subsidy program intended to partially offset higher agricultural input costs and support the profitability of farms.
The program is financed through EU funds and the Polish national budget, with €66.63 million in EU funding allocated. The planned level of support is up to PLN 500 per hectare, with assistance available for a maximum of 300 hectares.
Importantly, the level of support is expected to reflect the actual cost of fertilizer purchases, making invoices a key element of the application process. The scheme is intended to cover fertilizers purchased after 1 March 2026, following a sharp increase in gas and fertilizer prices.
However, several practical details remain outstanding. The draft regulation, application deadline, detailed method of calculating the support, application procedure and payment start date have not yet been published.
A firm position on EU–Mercosur
The Ministry has also reaffirmed Poland’s opposition to the EU–Mercosur trade agreement in its current form.
According to the Ministry, the agreement could undermine the competitiveness of Polish and wider EU agriculture because of differences in production standards and the potential increase in imports of agri-food products from non-EU countries.
The issue forms part of a broader effort by the Ministry to safeguard the interests of Polish farmers not only through domestic policy, but also through active engagement in EU agricultural and trade discussions.
Looking ahead
For the coming period, the implementation of the announced support schemes, particularly those for pig producers and fertilizer purchases, will be important in determining how effectively these policy priorities translate into tangible benefits for Polish farms.
Source - https://www.agroberichtenbuitenland.nl
