Farms Equipment with Agricultural Tractors and Farmers’ Interest in Subsidizing Their Purchase from EU Funds on the Example of Łódzkie Voivodeship
Farms Equipment with Agricultural Tractors and Farmers’ Interest in Subsidizing Their Purchase from EU Funds on the Example of Łódzkie Voivodeship

Summary/Abstract: The article presents the equipment of farms with agricultural tractors in Łódzkie voivodeship. Information needed for the investigation covering the period of 2002–2016comes from the Central Statistical Office database. In December 2016, surveys were carriedout among individual farmers. The information collected allowed for the analysis of the number and brands of tractors owned by the farmers, tractors’ age and their engine power. In addition, the issues of the degree of use of tractors and the willingness of farmers to use the subsidies offered by the European Union programs were considered. The independence test χ2 was carried out for selected diagnostic features. In the period from 2002–2016, the number of agricultural tractors used in farms in Łódzkie voivodeship increased by 12.7 thousand pieces. Since the accession of Poland to the EU structures, the number of tractors purchased with the support of the EU funds propping up the development of agriculture has been increasing. Most agricultural tractors ownedby surveyed farmers exceeded 20 years from the date of production. A large part was purchased as used tractors. Respondents pay attention to the technological capabilities of the tractors purchased, where the engine power is the basis. It has been observed that in small farms the power of tractors exceeds the demand of farms. Only 22% of tractors were purchased with the support of EU funds. The purchase of a new tractor in the next two years is planned mainly by younger respondents, owning farms with an area of over 10 hectares. Key words: tractors, Farm equipment, Łódzkie voivodeship, EU funds.

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