As the largest domestic agricultural exhibition, Země Živitelka, prepares to open its doors in České Budějovice this Thursday, many farmers are approaching the event with a sense of trepidation rather than celebration. The agricultural sector is anticipating what could be the poorest harvest in recent memory.
Jan Doležal, Chairman of the Agrarian Chamber of the Czech Republic, paints a grim picture: “For cereals, we’re looking at the worst result in twelve years, and for oilseed crops, it’s the worst in eighteen years”. This downturn is attributed to a decrease in sown areas, as growing these crops has become economically unfeasible in the current climate.
The challenges facing farmers are multifaceted. Rising costs, including increased property taxes and falling purchase prices over the past fourteen months, have created a perfect storm. Doležal estimates that the revenue drop for these two commodities could reach six to seven million.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom. This year’s hop harvest offers a glimmer of hope, with yields expected to be about 10% higher than average. In the Žatec region, they’re anticipating a harvest up to 30% larger than last year.
Fruit growers have been hit particularly hard. Martin Ludvík, Chairman of the Fruit Growers Union, reports that fruit yields will be down by 77% compared to the five-year average, largely due to devastating spring frosts in late April. The industry faces one of its most significant setbacks in a century, with losses in crop revenue estimated at around 1.3 billion crowns.
Despite these challenges, the agricultural sector is expected to profit seven billion this year. However, this represents a 40% decrease compared to last year and only about a third of the profits seen in 2022.
As farmers gather at Země Živitelka, the exhibition will undoubtedly be a forum for discussing these challenges and exploring potential solutions for the future of Czech agriculture.