ARiMR implements satellite monitoring and debt relief for Polish farmers

The Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture (ARiMR) in Poland is utilizing advanced satellite technology to reduce errors in subsidy applications. Through the Area Monitoring System (AMS), which uses Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellites from the Copernicus program, the agency can monitor crop status and land area every few days. This system allows farmers to correct discrepancies in their declarations regarding area or crop types by September 15 without facing sanctions. Last year, several thousand farmers successfully avoided penalties by utilizing these early warnings.

Additionally, ARiMR has launched a loan program to assist indebted farmers in settling civil law obligations related to agricultural activities. Under the NP4 line, eligible producers can apply for loans of up to 3 million PLN at a 2 percent annual interest rate, with a repayment period of up to 15 years. To qualify, farmers must have been active for at least three years and meet specific criteria, such as having suffered crop losses exceeding 30 percent of their average annual production due to events like hail, frost, floods, or drought.