“There are a number of farms affected by debt, including those threatened with bankruptcyand some are already there bankrupt. This year we will prepare consolidation loan with financial support from the budgetto keep the interest rate low. I think we will receive support from the government, including the Minister of Finance. This is the easiest and cheapest form of help,” Siekierski noted.
The Green Deal helps farmers
According to the head of the Ministry of Agriculture, this was the cause of the current difficult situation in agriculture low profitability of production in 2023 caused by high prices of fertilizers and energy. “Green Deal and inflow of agricultural products from Ukraine had an influence on this, but it was not decisive,” he said, adding that The Green Deal has been changed in line with farmers' expectations.
Siekierski he also referred to the words of representatives of agricultural organizations on the subject Act on supporting the development of rural areasadmitting that it requires amendment to ensure that farmers can carry out production, including animal husbandry, which can be troublesome for housing estates that are increasingly being built in the countryside. He noted that it was being built biogas plants are to minimize this problem.
Crisis on the grain market
The minister also commented on the reports of the president of the National Council of Agricultural Chambers, Wiktor Szmulewicz wheat shortages on the Polish market and the need to import it. “There is a little shortage of feed wheat, but there are enough other types of cereals,” he said. In the opinion of the head of the ministry, we need it a better agricultural market monitoring systemto receive up-to-date information on the actual stock status, and is also necessary increasing the storage space available to farmers, which will provide them with the ability to respond more flexibly to the market situation.
“Funds are flowing, including those at our disposal Minister of Funds and Regional Policy for the construction of warehouses so that farmers can store more surpluses,” Siekierski said.
Land leasing act: benefits for both parties to the contract
The Minister of Agriculture also announced work on the Act on the leasing of agricultural land, which in his opinion should be more formalized. “Land owners should be able to continue using KRUSa tenants should receive subsidies for managing them“- he emphasized.
Siekierski also announced actions for… rebuilding animal productionabove all pigsj. “Today we have 8.5 million pigs in the country, and in the best times the number exceeded 20 million,” he noted.
KPO for regional policy and agriculture
She also participated in the meeting with farmers and representatives of the agri-food industry Minister of Funds and Regional Policy Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, who pointed out that in 2002, Poland was a net importer of food, and today, after 20 years of membership in the European Union, it is an exporter, and our positive balance is EUR 11 billion. “This is very good, but it is not something given once and for all (…)” – emphasized Pełczyńska-Nałęcz.
As she indicated, with National Reconstruction Plan PLN 2.5 billion was redirected to investments in the agricultural and agri-food sector. “There will be very specific effects from this (…) These funds – the total funds from the KPO and structural funds, which are directed to the area of agriculture, which amounts to a total of PLN 22 billion – are directed to investments that will allow for more effective (… ) to store food to give farmers the opportunity to flexibly respond to market conditions or both booms and difficult situations. These are funds directed to education, modern technologies and modern investments in Polish agriculture to make it as efficient as possible profitable and competed effectively with farmers and producers in the European Union (…),” said Pełczyńska-Nałęcz.
Social Climate Fund
She recalled that “we have work ahead of us” on Poland's development plan for the next decade Social Climate Fund, which will enter into force in 2026. It is approximately PLN 50 billion, the minister noted. “(…) The aim is adaptation of the Polish economy, Polish investments to what we collide with, that is with climate change“- emphasized the head of MFiPR.
Marshal of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia, Siekierski and Pełczyńska-Nałęcz they met on Monday with representatives of farmers and the agri-food industry. The idea of organizing such a meeting arose in February after the Marshal's conversation with representatives of farmers who were protesting in front of the Sejm at that time.
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