Banca dati dei progetti dei PSR

The creation of the Gazdowie producer group brought together small producers from the Carpathian region. This helped preserve traditional livestock production methods and created more awareness of traditional dairy and meat products in the region

Situated in the South of Poland, the Carpathian region has always been rich in traditional small farms specialising in sheep grazing and meat and dairy production. With the increasing competitiveness of the agricultural market the farmers in the region felt a need to join forces in order to protect their heritage and maintain small farm-holders profitability.

A producer group was established with the aim of preserving traditional sheep grazing and food production in the Carpathian micro regions. It was also intended to strengthen the competitiveness of the small producers that otherwise would be at risk of losing the profitability and sustainability of their activities.

The producer group functions as a cooperative made up of about 120 producers. It utilises 121 ha of agricultural land directly, and an additional 1,000 hectares for grazing sheep and lambs, used as a base for export production. In addition to directly supporting agricultural production, the group’s activities focused on joint activities aimed at price negotiations, promotion and advertising. Investments into farm holdings were also carried out, such as the construction of a sheep slaughterhouse.

Establishing a producer group helped the farmers to further specialise in manufacturing various sheep products. In addition, the traditional method of production (including using the ‘highland hut’) has been preserved for the following dairy products: oscypki, redykołki, sheep cheese, bundz, Wallachia cheese, gołki and gazdowski cheese. The activities of the group have reinforced small producers' economic sustainability and improved visibility of their products.

The idea of creating a producer group was successful. Nevertheless, there were obstacles encountered during its set up and subsequent operation - mostly of a legal nature. Those involved felt that the law does not sufficiently reflect the specificity of small farms in the Carpathian region. In addition, widely dispersed small farms lack the financial capacity that is necessary for investments and this project has shown how working together can be beneficial to all the individuals involved.

Various microregions of Carpaths: Tatra, Podhale, Spisz, Pieniny, Żywieckie, Beskid Śląski

Małopolskie

Poland

250 000

200 000

50 000

https://www.gazdowie.ebiznes.fm/

Kazimierz Furczoń

gazdowie@poczta.onet.pl

+48 182656498

Polish