"Let's Save Polish Food". Farmers Protest in the Streets of Szczecin

On Friday, farmers took to the streets of Szczecin again to draw the attention of residents to the problems they are struggling with. They define the situation of their sector as very difficult. They believe that the signing of the Mercosur trade agreement, the introduction of the Green Deal and the uncontrolled influx of food products from Ukraine will have a disastrous effect on the Polish economy.

Farmers began their protest on May 15. They then arrived at the West Pomeranian Voivodeship Office and presented their demands to Deputy Voivode Bartosz Brożyński. Since then, several vehicles have remained at the office permanently. A group of tractors and cars several times larger took to the streets, obstructing traffic and reminding us what farmers are fighting for.

Farmers would like to talk to the most important decision-makers. As they said on Friday, the Polish People's Party MP from Szczecin, Jarosław Rzepa, organized a meeting for them in Koszalin with the Minister of Agriculture, Czesław Siekierski.

- But the minister did not respond to any of our six postulates - one of the protest leaders, Stanisław Barna, bitterly summed up. - He sent a general letter that does not contain any solution to the problem.

Farmers believe that the Mercosur trade agreement, the European Union's agreement with South American countries, will be deadly to the European agricultural market. According to them, the Green Deal imposes far-reaching restrictions on farmers. An additional problem is the influx of food products from Ukraine - the production of which is not as thoroughly examined as it is in EU countries.

- In reality, there is no control over agricultural production in Ukraine. I was at the border. I heard stories about grain of terrible quality being transported from the east, in ordinary coal wagons. It was against the law and common sense. There is lawlessness there, also because of the war. Of course, one cannot blame this country for not coping in such difficult conditions, but how can we sign an agreement with President Zelensky, if he is not able to control it anyway? - said Adam Walterowicz, chairman of the Voivodeship Union of Farmers and Agricultural Organizations.

Another issue: drought. According to farmers, the drought application is "a dud and a fraud." That is why they are demanding that drought commissions go out to the fields.

Farmers are also supported by transport companies.

- For us and for farmers, the problem is stupid environmentalism. Farmers must comply with fertilization standards, we must comply with vehicle standards. And it turns out that cheap old equipment is being let in from Ukraine, which does not meet any standards - said Piotr Krzyżankiewicz, president of the Independent Forum of Transport Employers.

Friday's protest is held under the slogan "Let's save Polish food".

Farmers will still be wondering what form they will take to protest in the near future.©℗

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