6533b7d0fe1ef96bd125a211

RESEARCH PRODUCT

SELECTED PROBLEMS OF SUSTAINABLE INTENSIFICATION OF AGRICULTURE. A CASE STUDY OF OPOLE PROVINCE

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There is a model of agriculture being implemented in regions of the European Union, which comes close to the global strategy of sustainable intensification of agriculture. The aim of this paper is to identify problems connected with realization of this strategy in family-run agricultural holdings based in Opole Province. The primary source material was collected in 2014 by means of a questionnaire survey conducted in 100 agricultural holdings selected on purpose. Their size exceeds 10 hectares of arable land and they are situated in sub-regions that are representative of the agriculture in Opole Province. On the basis of the research it was concluded that the farmers most often choose a trajectory of development, which consists in enlarging the area of land in their possession. This is realized together with simultaneous provision of additional services for the local environment. In the opinion of the examined farmers, the intensification of production, which is regulated by environmental norms, gives rise to the need of constant learning, as well as optimization of technological potential of specialization. The research confirmed also the farmers’ readiness to participate in institutions of risk management, chiefly in the fund of mutual insurance, in case of natural calamities occur.