Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to visit Poland today to supposedly thank the country for its support during the Russian invasion. But let’s be real here, does anyone really think that this is a genuine gesture of gratitude? The Ukrainian government has been anything but grateful to Poland and other countries affected by the influx of Ukrainian grain that has flooded the market and caused prices to plummet. Meanwhile, Polish grain producers are up in arms, accusing Polish Agriculture Minister Henryk Kowalczyk of failing to follow through on the agreement signed with farmers to solve the Ukrainian grain crisis.
Last year, the EU established “solidarity routes” to ease grain exports from war-torn Ukraine. This led to a flood of cheap Ukrainian grain that has adversely affected local grain prices in central European countries such as Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria. This has devastated local farmers, who are forced to sell their grain at a loss or watch it rot in storage.
In a show of good faith, the Polish Ministry of Agriculture and representatives of the farming movement signed an agreement last week to end the excessive grain influx from Ukraine and compensate grain producers for their losses. However, it appears that the minister’s promises were just empty words, as none of the measures have been implemented.
Marcin Sobczuk, head of the Zamość Farmers’ Association, expressed his disappointment, stating that they believed the minister was serious about taking action, but it has become clear that he was not. Even worse, since the agreement was signed, the influx of cheap Ukrainian grain into Poland has only increased, with some companies even hoarding the grain. Michał Kołodziejczak, one of the leading farmer representatives, spoke out at an impromptu press conference on Monday, warning that the situation is dire and action must be taken immediately.
The EU’s recent approval of a support measure worth 56.3 million euros for farmers in Bulgaria, Poland, and Romania affected by the flood of cheap Ukrainian grain is nothing more than a temporary fix. It’s just a band-aid solution that won’t cover the massive losses farmers suffer or address the problem’s root cause. The Ukrainian government has to take responsibility for its actions and work with other countries to find a permanent solution. Enough with the empty promises and insufficient measures! Farmers’ livelihoods are at stake here, and it’s high time for politicians to do something about it.
Polish farmers are justifiably upset. During a recent panel discussion with the EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski, they expressed their anger and frustration by pelting the Polish Agriculture Minister with eggs. This bold move clearly indicates that farmers in Poland are done with their government’s empty promises and insufficient measures. It’s imperative that politicians take the plight of farmers seriously and address the root cause of the problem. Will the government finally wake up and resolve the crisis, or will it continue to ignore the cries of the people who put food on our tables? The Polish farmers demand answers and immediate action from their government.
In an interview with the Polish news website Interia, Marcin Sobczuk, the head of the Zamość Farmers’ Association, warned Warsaw about Zelensky’s visit. Sobczuk believes the Polish government should think twice before welcoming the Ukrainian President with open arms as he is not convinced of Zelensky’s sincerity. Sobczuk even threatened to “spoil” the visit and stated that there were many ideas on how to do so. The Polish farmers have had enough of empty promises and want to see action from their government, not just political posturing. It’s time for Warsaw to stand up for their farmers and stop playing games with their livelihoods.
Addendum: The protests have finally claimed a victory with the resignation of the Polish Agriculture Minister Henryk Kowalczyk. He stepped down today after realising that the EU Commission would not agree to reimpose tariffs and duties on Ukrainian grain imports.
Great agriculture piece. This is a consequence of the war in Ukraine that few have predicted. Most would have assumed that the increase in Ukrainian grain exports to Europe would be welcomed – it drives down grain prices for consumer – but the cost is paid by farmers.