Polish agriculture faces severe losses from extreme weather

Polish farmers and fruit growers are facing severe economic challenges due to extreme weather conditions and market volatility. A recent destructive hailstorm in the Grójec region affected approximately 3,200 hectares of orchards, with potential losses estimated in the hundreds of millions of zlotys.

Beyond hail damage, the agricultural sector is struggling with the cumulative effects of spring frosts, summer heatwaves exceeding 40°C, and hydrological droughts. These factors have led to significantly lower yields across various fruit species and crops like rapeseed and wheat. The Polish Fruit Growers Association reports that these climate-related phenomena have resulted in ‘absolutely smaller harvests’ across the board.

In response to declining profitability and rising production costs for fuel, fertilizer, and energy, the Polish Federation of Farmers and the National Council of Agricultural Chambers have proposed relief measures to the Ministry of Agriculture. Their proposal includes lowering rents for state-owned land managed by KOWR and deferring payments for land purchases to help maintain liquidity for farms hit by weather-related losses.