Economics & Sociology

Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the European Union provides strong support for their farmers. Despite the evolution of CAP goals among the most important ones is still to ensure satisfactory level of incomes in agriculture sector. This to be done with respect to different stage of development and structural disparities of agriculture between member states. The aim of the article is presentation of incomes development in selected EU member states and Polish agriculture after accession to the EU. The level and main drivers of farmer’s incomes are to be investigated in comparison with the EU countries. Author argues that low incomes are still phenomena of Polish agriculture and the CAP directly improved economic position of Polish farmers. However this improvement has unsustainable character. This call for adjustment of CAP tools on national level toward stimulation development processes in long-term perspective. In this article problem of agricultural incomes is investigated on sector level based on Economic Accountancy for Agriculture data. Changes in productivity of agriculture are calculated with the use of Malmquist indices to distinguish technical and technological drivers of development. Finally recommendations aiming at rural policy sustainability improvement are proposed.