Polish pig sector split over new 2026–2035 recovery strategy
Poland's agriculture minister has received a pig-sector recovery strategy drawn up by the industry. Farmers are divided: supporters see the first comprehensive plan, while critics fear greater concentration of production.
Poland's agriculture minister, Krajewski, has received an industry-prepared strategy for rebuilding the country's pig sector in 2026–2035. The document proposes ways to restore the pig herd, improve farm competitiveness and strengthen farmers' position in the supply chain. It has sparked sharp debate among farmers, because it bears on whether Poland can reduce its reliance on imported piglets.
The minister's position
Krajewski said he welcomes solutions proposed by the industry itself rather than rules written only inside the ministry. He did not promise to adopt every proposal automatically: the ministry will pick those likely to have the greatest effect. He also said that anyone criticising the strategy should present their own ideas.
Arguments in favour
Supporters call the strategy the first comprehensive plan covering piglet production, African swine fever (ASF), investment, processing and trade. Damian Kacprzak, a pig producer and member of PZNPŚ, an association of individual pig farmers, says the key goal is to rebuild the core breeding herd so Poland no longer depends on importing 8 million piglets from Denmark. He puts the value of those imports at 2.4 billion zlotys. The document also states that pig production in Poland should rest mainly on family farms.
Arguments against
Critics, including pig producer and KRW member Janusz Terka, argue the strategy protects the interests of the meat industry and large players more than individual breeders. In his view there is no clear line between a family farm and industrial production. He also warns that the strategy gives too little attention to ASF, and that creating sanitary groups, isolated production cycles and compartments could lead to more farms being closed. He says that without correction the strategy would speed up concentration of production in the hands of the largest companies.
Both sides agree that the document's value will be decided not by its length but by implementation: it needs concrete rules, funding and deadlines.
