LAND AND LABOR EFFICIENCY CHANGES IN POLISH AGRICULTURE IN REGIONAL TERMS

Abstract

In Poland, there is a significant diversification of efficiency in agriculture between voivodeships. Therefore, we expect efficiency convergence in line with the modernization process of agriculture in regions. The work aims to identify the scale and direction of changes in the efficiency of land and labor in farms in Poland in terms of voivodeships and to determine whether there is a convergence of the efficiency. Statistical data from Statistics Poland and data from the FADN on the results of farms for the years 2010-2020 were used in the analysis. In the period covered by the analysis, the average area of farms increased by 18% to 11.6 ha, and the level of employment decreased by as much as 31% to 9.5 AWU/100 ha. On FADN farms, the area increased by 15% to 40.4 ha, and the level of employment decreased by 10% to 4.9 AWU/100 ha. Land efficiency did not change significantly in real terms, and labor efficiency increased by 15-18% in real terms, depending on the region. It was found that the convergence between voivodeships occurred only concerning labor productivity in agriculture (in value of GVA/AWU). Convergence was not confirmed for labor productivity (in value of production/AWU), and divergence was observed both for land efficiency and productivity. This means that differences in the effectiveness of Polish agriculture between regions are permanent, and progress in agriculture by regions is at a similar pace. In the future, the main constraint on agriculture development in some regions will be the strong fragmentation of agriculture.