Structural Changes in Agriculture in Podkarpacie in the Second Decade of the 21st Century

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to assess the structural changes taking place in the agriculture of Podkarpacie. The main source of data used in the analysis was the results of the last two general agricultural censuses for the years 2010 and 2020. The area structure of farms, their average area and the structure of land use, which are important components of the agrarian structure of the region, were analyzed. On the basis of the indicators of structure and dynamics, an assessment was made of the changes taking place in relation to the production potential of farms and their consequences for the development of farms in the region. Research showed further worsening of the deagrarianisation processes in Podkarpacie and deepening of this negative trend the agriculture of the region. The decreasing number of farms does not translate into an improvement in the unfavorable area structure and average farm size. The fragmented structure of farms has been the main barrier to their development in competitive market conditions and the reason for the deteriorating position of agriculture in comparison with the rest of Poland. The economic weakness of small farms, which dominate the region, limits the possibility of using their potential, and thus the implementation of sustainable development. The radical decrease in the number of cattle and sheep is a particularly serious threat, especially in mountainous areas with a large potential for fodder from grasslands, the agricultural use of which allows many non-productive functions to be performed.