Small-scale retention for farmers. Three regions offer grants

Up to PLN 100,000 in support may be available in 2026 to farmers planning the construction or renovation of a small-scale retention reservoir. Calls for grant applications are being conducted by the Małopolskie, Wielkopolskie and Kujawsko-Pomorskie regions. The conditions for granting support differ slightly in each of these areas.

Małopolska fights drought and flooding

For another year in a row, the Board of the Małopolskie Region has launched a grant programme for the construction and renovation of reservoirs serving small-scale retention in order to protect and improve the quality of agricultural land. The level of support amounts to up to 80 percent of eligible costs, but the maximum grant per project may not exceed PLN 50,000.

The award of a grant depends on meeting a number of conditions. First, the applicant must be the owner of the land on which the planned or renovated reservoir is located. Second, the facility should have an area of between 100 and 10,000 m2 and must serve agricultural purposes, excluding use as a fish pond. Third, the investment must aim to improve soil water retention and increase flood safety.

Applications may be submitted in person, by post or via the electronic submission box by 30 January 2026, using the new forms adopted under Resolution No. 2866/25 of 16 December 2025. Detailed information about the grant programme is available on the website of the Małopolskie Agricultural Advisory Centre.

Grant programme in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region

In the Kujawy area, the dominant problem is regularly recurring drought. To prevent the unproductive runoff of water from areas where precipitation occurs, the Board of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region offers annual funding for the construction and renovation of water reservoirs serving small-scale retention. Applications may be submitted by 31 March of the year in which the investment will be implemented.

Grants of up to PLN 100,000 are awarded for the construction and renovation of reservoirs with an area of 0.10 ha to 1 ha and a depth of up to 3 m. They must be located in areas of agricultural production and serve to improve water conditions on adjacent land. The support does not cover ponds located in forests, housing estates or recreational areas. Importantly, the applicant must independently cover 25 percent of the investment costs.

A list of required documents and detailed information can be found in the Public Information Bulletin of the Marshal’s Office of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region.

Small-scale retention also in Wielkopolska

Farmers in the Wielkopolskie region have considerably more time to plan the construction or renovation of retention ponds. Resolution No. 2566/2025 of the Board of the Wielkopolskie Region of 10 October 2025 provides that applications must be submitted by 30 November of the year preceding the budget year in which the task will be carried out.

Funding is granted for the construction and renovation of water reservoirs with an area of 0.30 ha to 2.00 ha, and the unit rate of support amounts to PLN 75,000 per hectare for construction and PLN 30,000 per hectare for the renovation of small-scale retention ponds. The division of a reservoir by a dike is permitted.

The support is addressed to entities that have not used funds from the budget of the Wielkopolskie Region for the construction or renovation of water reservoirs within the last four years. In addition to proof of land ownership or the right to use the property, applicants must submit a declaration that they own no more than 30 ha of small-scale retention water reservoirs.

Detailed information on the required documents and the application procedure is provided by the Department of Property Management of the Marshal’s Office of the Wielkopolskie Region. The applicable application forms can be found on the website of the Office’s Public Information Bulletin.