Good Practice - Project
Precision-based development of a Polish fruit farm
Precision farming and labour efficiency improved for Polish fruit farmers after investing in modernised orchard management equipment.
General information
RDP Priority
- P2. Competitiveness
RDP Focus Area
- 2A: Farm’s performance, restructuring & modernisation
RDP Measure
- M04: Investments in physical assets
Beneficiary type
- Farmer / land manager
Summary
Precision agriculture technologies can improve resource management through precise applications of inputs such as agri-chemicals, which leads to more efficient agricultural production. In orchards, harvesting is one of the most labour-intensive operations, and farm labour supplies can be challenging.
A Polish family of fruit farmers used CAP investment support to modernise its production system for nutritious and healthy fresh food. New equipment for managing and harvesting the farm orchards was co-funded. This allowed precision dosing approaches for agri-chemicals needed to protect the crops against pests.
Reducing environmental risks, creating cost savings, and improving labour effectiveness were all aims of the investment project.
Short supply chains help the farm further reduce its carbon footprint via online sales of its fresh produce, deliveries, and 24/7 fruit dispensary machines called ‘Owocomaty’.
Results
- Greater business efficiency and less labour burden for the family farm.
- More precise use of plant protection products, which reduced the quantity used, and had a specific impact on lower costs.
- Less fuel used with more precise and more efficient treatments and harvests.
- Increased quantities of quality fruit.
Promoter
Szymon Wierus ‘Owocowa Przystań
Funding
Total budget: 91 000 (PLN)
RDP support: 56 000 (PLN)
Private/own: 35 000 (PLN)
Resources
Links
Context
The modernisation of agrifood production facilities can help farmers thrive economically while contributing positively to environmental sustainability. Modern precision agriculture technologies can improve resource management through the precise application of inputs, such as agri-chemicals, leading to more efficient production. In orchards, harvesting is one of the most labour-intensive operations, and farm labour supplies can be challenging.
Szymon Wierus is a Polish fruit farmer who wanted to modernise his family farm by purchasing new equipment to help harvest fruits faster and more efficiently. The farm was founded in 1945, in the small village of Borowno Kolonia, in the Silesian Voivodeship. It was created from a passion for fruit cultivation, which was nurtured in the family tradition. The Wierus’ farm was the only fruit producer in the region for many years and could function thanks to its uniqueness, good brand, and the provision of fresh, healthy food to local residents.
The farm where the whole family lives includes residential and farm buildings, and 10 ha of orchards in which apple, pear, plum, sour cherry, sweet cherry, and (recently) peach trees grow. It is mainly focused on retail sales, meaning it depends on the loyalty of a large group of regular individual customers.
This involves maintaining a high quality of products and distribution services for its target customers, who buy premium products. This is not easy with increasing competition, frequent weather anomalies, and labour shortages.
The decision was therefore made to start a modernisation project by purchasing new equipment for improving precision farming.
Objectives
The main goal of the project was to allow the farmer to perform as many tasks as possible independently by purchasing new equipment that would allow many labour-intensive tasks to be performed in an easier and more efficient way.
As part of the project, an application for EU funding from the CAP was prepared for the purchase of an orchard platform and an orchard sprayer, which was to improve the application of plant protection treatments.
Activities
The following project activities were carried out:
- Preparation of a business plan for co-financing equipment purchases.
- Purchase of an orchard platform connected to a tractor, for harvesting fruit, cutting trees and performing other necessary tasks.
- Purchase of a precise electronically-controlled orchard sprayer - to reduce the consumption of plant protection products, thanks to more precise doses.
- Purchase of new equipment required carrying out work in the orchards that would enable their adaptation to the effective use of new machines (appropriate pruning of trees, unclogging gaps between alleys, etc.)
In addition to the implementation of the project, permanent cooperation was established with a beekeeper who placed hives on the premises and takes care professionally of the entire process of bee breeding and their ‘work’ in the orchard, which brings pollination and honey benefits. The bees would not be able to survive if too many chemicals were used.
Main results
The main results of the project implementation were:
- Shortening of work time and its simplification, which resulted in greater efficiency and less burden for the family farm.
- More precise use of plant protection products, which reduced the amount used and had a specific impact on lower costs.
- Less fuel is used with more precise and more efficient treatments and harvests.
- Increased production and quantity of available fruit while maintaining its high quality.
- Short supply chains helped the farmers to further reduce their carbon footprint by a coordinated package of online sales of their fresh produce, deliveries, and testing innovative 24/7 fruit dispensary machines called ‘Owocomaty’.
Key lessons
- Thanks to the use of new technologies, especially in the computer-controlled sprayer, the use of plant protection products has been reduced, which reduces risks to the environment.
- The purchased machines allow for greater mechanisation and ergonomics of the work performed and enable this type of farm to be run efficiently. With relatively small outlays, noticeable effects could be achieved.
- Complementary rural diversification actions are underway on the farm, providing educational services in training and workshops for schools and others.
A family orchard farm run with love for fruit and nature.