Average Levels of Direct Support for Farmers in Poland at the Regional Level

Purpose: The primary objective of the study was to identify differences between regions (voivodeships) in the average level of support granted under the direct payments scheme. Design/methodology/Approach: The interregional differentiation in the level of support is, to a large extent, a result of decisions taken at the national level regarding the shape of agricultural policy. Instruments and mechanisms that weaken the strength of the link between the area of the agricultural holding and the amount of support received have led to a more egalitarian distribution of funds among beneficiaries. Findings: Interregional dispersion was found to be relatively low where the level of support was measured by the average amount of payments per unit of agricultural area. However, the same indicator was high if the adopted measure was the average amount of support per beneficiary. Regions with the lowest average level of support per hectare of agricultural area include voivodeships in north-eastern, western, and south-western Poland and the Subcarpathia Voivodeship. Practical Implications: The region with the highest value of this indicator is the Podlachie Voivodeship. In turn, regions with the lowest average level of support per beneficiary are voivodeships of south-eastern Poland. The highest value of the indicator is observed in the Westpomeranian Voivodeship.