Polish Farmers Plan Border Blockades with Ukraine
Polish Farmers to Protest Against Ukrainian Imports
Polish farmers have taken a stand against the import of agricultural and food products from Ukraine, claiming that these imports are causing irreparable harm to Polish agriculture. The NSZZ RI “Solidarnosci” union, representing Polish farmers, has announced that a series of protests that began on February 9 will be intensified in the coming weeks.
According to the union’s statement, Polish agriculture has suffered greatly as a result of the influx of low-quality agricultural and food products from Ukraine, which are being sold at prices well below their production costs. This, combined with the challenges posed by the European Green Deal, which aims to reduce carbon emissions, has rendered farming unprofitable for many Polish farmers. In response to this, the NSZZ RI “Solidarnosci” has announced plans to block all Polish border crossings with Ukraine on February 20.
The National Council of Chambers of Agriculture has also joined the call for support, urging Prime Minister Donald Tusk to provide subsidy assistance to farmers in the grain, milk, pig, fertilizer, and fuel sectors. This plea comes in the wake of continued market instability, which has greatly affected the livelihoods of farmers across the country.
As the protests gain momentum, the Polish government will need to carefully consider the concerns raised by their agricultural sector and work towards finding a solution that ensures the sustainability and prosperity of Polish farming.
