Polish parliament raises compensation limits amid rural crisis, farmers block roads

On March 13, 2026, the Sejm passed an amendment to the Agricultural Protection Fund Act, which raises the compensation limit for groups of agricultural producers sixfold to €300,000. The new regulations aim to strengthen financial protection for farmers in case of insolvency of entities purchasing agricultural products. The decision was made in the face of a growing economic crisis in rural areas, where producers are grappling with a drastic drop in purchase prices alongside rising energy and fertilizer costs. The Agricultural Protection Fund is a key tool for income stabilization in a sector affected by high market volatility. The Agricultural Protection Fund was established to protect farmers from losses resulting from the bankruptcy of purchasing companies. Previous support limits were criticized by industry organizations as insufficient in the face of market consolidation and the growing scale of producer groups' activities. The March 2026 reform is a response to demands from the farming community, which has been calling for years for real security of commercial transactions in the trade of agricultural produce.

Parallel to new forms of support, from April 1, 2026, regulations increasing burdens for some insured parties in the agricultural insurance system will come into force. The monthly health insurance premium in KRUS for household members in special branches of agricultural production and farmer's assistants will rise to 277 PLN. The 20 PLN increase is argued as necessary to adjust rates to wage indicators in the enterprise sector. The farming community views these changes with reservation, pointing to the deteriorating financial liquidity of farms. Change in KRUS health insurance premium amount: Monthly premium rate: 257 PLN → 277 PLN

The situation in the Polish countryside remains tense, as manifested by local road blockades and sharp statements from leaders of farmers' organizations. Tomasz Ognisty, vice-chairman of NSZZ RI Solidarność, and Roman Kondrów from the Podkarpacka Oszukana Wieś movement warn that many farms are on the verge of bankruptcy due to so-called price scissors. Farmers are demanding that the government launch low-interest liquidity loans and production subsidies to compensate for low prices of grains and vegetables. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is holding talks with the sector, and Undersecretary of State Małgorzata Gromadzka announced the implementation of a 'local shelf' concept aimed at promoting regional products in retail chains. „Chcemy, aby polskie warzywa miały pierwszeństwo na sklepowych półkach poprzez mechanizmy wspierające lokalnych dostawców” (We want Polish vegetables to have priority on shop shelves through mechanisms supporting local suppliers) — Małgorzata Gromadzka via sadyogrody.pl

Timeline of changes in the agricultural sector 2026: March 13, 2026 — Amendment passed; April 1, 2026 — KRUS premium increase; June 30, 2026 — End of temporary reductions