Farmers’ perceptions towards selected environmental values: a regional study from Poland
2019
Syp, A., Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute, Pulawy (Poland). Dept. of Bioeconomy and Systems Analysis | Osuch, D., Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics – National Research Inst., Warsaw (Poland). Dept. of Agricultural Accountancy
Agricultural intensification has a negative impact on environment resulting in, among others, decrease in biodiversity, soil erosion, deforestation and forest degradation, increase of greenhouse gas emissions. In order to keep the balance between intensification and extensification of food production, in the frame of Agricultural Policy (CAP), the Agri-environmental schemes (AES) were introduced. Since 1992 the importance of environmental aspect has grown, which resulted in reforms of AES and a significant increase in expenses for these purposes. However, many studies present the negative environmental impact of agricultural practices as an on-going problem. It is due to not efficiently implemented AES by farmers. The better knowledge of environmental perceptions by farmers can be a key to the further policy development. We investigate the view of crop fields and mixed farmers towards environmental awareness in Poland, in the FADN region of Mazowsze and Podlasie. In 2017, we conducted a survey on 189 farms, of which 93 participated in AES since 2010. Our results indicate that all surveyed farmers were characterized by high environmental awareness. There were No major differences between AES and non-AES respondents in the perception of environmental threats. The obtained results do not confirm colloquially adopted opinion that farmers participating in AES are more aware of environmental pressure due to the fact that they follow AES regulations. Field corps and mixed farmers from AES and non-AES groups emphasized that there is a need to raise ecological awareness in order to improve the state of environment.
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