Poland agricultural sector faces land lease reforms and frost damage

The National Support Centre for Agriculture (KOWR) is preparing significant changes to the leasing of state-owned land. The proposed reforms aim to prioritize young and active farmers by shifting the evaluation criteria toward economic indicators, such as production volume, sales revenue, and production costs, rather than the length of time a farmer has used the land. Agricultural organizations, including the National Council of Agricultural Chambers and the Polish Agricultural Society, have submitted objections regarding issues such as residency requirements and preferences for new lessees.

Separately, Minister of Agriculture Stefan Krajewski addressed the Sejm regarding support for farmers affected by spring frosts and heatwaves. Data indicates that spring frosts impacted over 89,000 hectares of apple orchards nationwide, with over 91% of that area suffering losses exceeding 70%. The most significant damage occurred in the Masovian, Łódź, Świętokrzyskie, and Lublin provinces. Despite these losses, the Ministry estimates that the 2026 apple harvest will reach 3.1 million tons, which is 17.7% lower than in 2025.