Agriculture in PolandCase Study 2
..., food production continues to be less than what it could be. Poland does not use many chemical fertilizers or chemicals to protect their crops. They also have in the past had poor storage for their food, which contributes to a 20 to 30 percent loss. Agriculture in the lowlands is one of the most important things for Poland. Most of this plain is fertile, covered with rich loess soil which supports a range of cereal and vegetable crops, in which Poland is almost self-sufficient, and livestock, the most important of which are cattle and pigs” (Geographica, 1999, pg. 257). With such rich soil it is no wonder they are trying to preserve the land. Since the Polish farmers have a better symbiotic relationship with nature there is little damage done to the land they use for growing crops. Poland also uses “2 to 3 times less chemical fertilizer and 5 to 10 times less pesticides and herbicides” (Nowicki, 1999). The soil structure is maintained with little damage from the uses of horses for haulage. The soil is enriched with the use of coppices and uncultivated strips. Polish farms also have streams running through the fields, which produces high quality food. The fields also have streams running through them, which helps with high quality food production. The best way for Poland to improve their farming techniques is by the use of organic farming. Many people began to realize the significance of organic farming in the early 1980’s and an organic agricultural movement began. Seminars led to the establishment of the first organic farmer’s association in 1989, EKOLAND. By the end of 1989 Poland had 27 certified organic farms with each having acreage of 300 ha. By 2000 Poland had 183 farms each with 6,3800 ha acres (Metera, 2004). Organic farming is preferable to the alternatives for many reasons. Instead of using chemicals to fertilize and protect crops, farmers manage their fields so as to take advantage of more natural produced composts and mulches that recycle nutrients, and control pests and weeds. Organic farming is less damaging to the land so that future food production will still be possible, helping the agriculture to be sustainable. Sustainability must meet the needs of the present without any possibilities of compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Humans need the “consideration of social responsibilities such as working and living conditions of laborers, the needs of rural communities, and consumer health and safety both in the present and the future” (Feenstra, 1997). Humans need to understand the importance of a sustainable agriculture. Such a new system must be accepted by all inhabitants for it to become useful. Poland has been able to create a large impact on the whole civilization for organic farming through the use of educational seminars. The community as a whole is able to accept such a change because they were educated. They were shown why such a drastic agricultural change was needed, and how it could help their economy. The recent formation of many organic farms, mostly within central Poland, is growing crops of many varieties. Grains are now being produced organically. The most popular crops that are being grown are carrots, beets, cucumbers, fruits, and grains. Although production is going well, prices are not. With higher prices being placed on organic foods, many people are choosing not to purchase them. Conventional farming has been found to have a devastating effect on the environment. Some of the problems consist of “(1) Contamination of ground and surface water from agricultural chemicals and sediment; (2) Hazards to human and animal health from pesticides and feed additives; (3) Adverse effects of agricultural chemicals on food safety and quality; (4) Loss of the genetic diversity in plants and animals, a key to the sustainability of agriculture; (5) Destruction of w...