Agriculture employs 14 % of the working population but contributes individual 4 % of GDP, which shows the low productivity of this sector. The lower employment in agriculture is produced in Silesia and Lower Silesia region ( approximately 5 % ).
Unlike what happened in the industrial sector during the communist era Polish agricultural sector was principally in private hands. Most of the former state farms are currently leased to farmers, since the dearth of credit commodities impediment to the sale of state farmland. However, the possible scrutiny in 2007 of setup of help to agriculture by the European Union could help to defuse the situation.
Currently, two million private farms occupy 90 % of agricultural land and approximately the twin ratio of total agricultural production. These farms are small, an average of 8 ha, and are recurrently divided. Farms with an area greater than 15 hectares perform 9 % of the total, but they occupy 45 % of agricultural land. More than half of Poland ' s farms produce only enough for subsistence or very little for sale.
However, Poland is Europe ' s largest producer of potatoes and rye and one of the largest producers of sugar beet. It is also a major producer of rapeseed, and pigs and cattle. Poland exported candy, manufactured fruits and vegetables, meat and dairy products.
Often imported wheat, grain, vegetable oil and protein foods, which are generally insufficient to meet domestic demand. Attempts to increase grain production have been hampered by the short growing season, poor soil and the small size of farms.
Before the Second World War, the Polish industrial base was located in the sectors of coal, textiles, chemicals, machinery, iron and steel. Today there are industrial activity for the production of fertilizers, petrochemicals, auto and electrical tools, electronics, and construction of cars and boats.
Polish industrial base was virtually destroyed in World War II. The communist economic system imposed in the 1940s created great economic structures that were developed under the centralized system, which ended up collapsing the system.
In 1990, the Mazowiecki government began a reform program to replace the core program with a more market - oriented system. The results were a gradual incorporation into the market economy and the increase in the results of the various productive sectors. In February 2004, industrial production grew 18 % per year.
