The division of agricultural land in the Drawsko district is becoming increasingly contentious. Farmers are sounding the alarm that the current bidding system – previously established by farmers, the agricultural chamber, and KOWR – favors the largest players and allows for circumventing regulations. There are even opinions suggesting that “bid migration” might be occurring.
The issue of tenders – both offer-based and auction-based – concerning agricultural land in the Drawsko district is a major concern for farmers in the Drawsko district. At the heart of the disputes is KOWR (National Support Centre for Agriculture), which aims to divide land into plots of approximately 20 hectares.
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The method of distributing state-owned land is crucial for the development of local farms and food security. As reported by “Tygodnik Rolniczy,” allegations of “bid migration,” inflated rents, and fictitious land use are emerging.
Bids for land from KOWR evoke emotions. Farmers feel helpless
According to explanations from “Tygodnik Rolniczy,” 70% of the land is allocated to farmers through offer-based tenders, and 30% through auctions – this is a result of consultations between KOWR, the local agricultural chamber, and the farmers themselves. However, voices are increasingly suggesting that the system is not airtight. Farmers from other regions can register their residency a month before a tender to gain additional points.
Damian Pacek, a farmer from the Drawsko Pomorskie commune, quoted by “Tygodnik Rolniczy,” points out that he has witnessed situations where farmers from towns even 20 km away managed to register their residency in the Drawsko district less than a month before the tenders. All this was done to acquire extra points in the bidding race.
Land tenders are controversial. Farmers speak of fictions
As explained by “Tygodnik Rolniczy,” in auctions, the highest bidder wins. Often, these are proxy bidders or farmers with significant capital. Rents can reach up to PLN 3,000 per hectare, which excludes smaller farmers. Additionally, formal divisions of land among family members allow for bypassing the 300-hectare limit.
Excessively high rents and unclear criteria can exclude smaller farmers from the market. This, in turn, leads to land concentration in the hands of a few and limits the opportunities for young farmers to grow.
Farmers advocate for the introduction of a maximum rent rate and for tightening the scoring criteria. They also want KOWR to better monitor the actual use of land and verify agricultural production, not just formal documentation. Without changes, the system will continue to favor the largest and most enterprising, at the expense of local farms.
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