Powerful losses of farmers after hail. Siekierski: The scale requires support from outside the ministry's budget

Minister of Agriculture Czesław Siekierski announced on Sunday efforts for additional funds to help fruit and farmers, whose crops were destroyed by hail. As he pointed out, the ministry's budget is not enough to cover such large losses, which in many cases reach 100 percent.

The Minister of Agriculture Czesław Siekierski visited the areas affected by violent hails in the Sandomierz region in the province. Świętokrzyski. In an interview with journalists, he announced that the ministry would ask the Ministry of Finance for support.

“We are not able to cover such a scale from the ministry's budget. We have already spent significant means, including helping to combat the effects of bird flu – we had to utilize 11 million pieces of poultry” – noted the minister. As he announced, the topic of help for injured farmers will raise at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers and in the Sejm.

“This is an unpleasant visit, because when you see the scale of damage and almost despair in the eyes of farmers, it is difficult to remain indifferent. Many of them already had much smaller yields last year – now the situation is repeated,” he pointed out.

He added that he invited representatives of the Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture, local governments and farmers themselves to Warsaw, to jointly – with the participation of all relevant services – to discuss possible changes in the approach to the work of committees estimating losses. “We are dealing with various types of damage, which are not always covered by existing forms and protocols. We do everything to support farmers as soon as possible,” added the minister

At this stage, it is difficult to estimate the full scale of losses, because – as the minister pointed out – the committees will only start their inventory. The ministry announces various forms of support: financial assistance, tax exemptions, as well as facilitation in the reconstruction of production next year.

“It is difficult to talk about full damage today, because we do not know their value yet. But we are aware that hails have affected not only Sandomierz region, but also the Lublin region, Lower Silesia or the Lubusz Land” – added the minister.

The deputy voivode of Świętokrzyski Michał Skotnicki announced that the losses caused by violent storms from recent days were reported by 19 municipalities from the region, including all from the Sandomierz poviat. “Grads, naval rains, storms and storms have destroyed crops of cereals, vegetables, fruits and rapeseed. These are losses often reaching 100 percent.” – Skotnicki told PAP.

As he emphasized, committees start work that will deal with detailed estimation of losses. Help will be possible if the damage to the farm exceeds 30 percent. vegetable production values. The victims can also count on current financial support – up to 8,000 PLN for damage to residential buildings, and in the case of larger losses – up to 200,000 PLN for houses and up to 100,000 PLN for outbuildings.

The scale of damage is huge – confirms the fruit in an interview with PAP. Michał Strugała, the owner of the 25-hectare farm in Winiary (Dwikozy commune), assessed that he suffered “the biggest hail losses in history.” “The hail came from Thursday to Friday with two waves – first balls with a diameter of 3-4 cm, then smaller, but very intense rainfall.

“Losses reach 80-100 percent. My farm mainly cultivates consumer apples. We supply the Indian market, Egypt, Jordan. At this point, the goods are not suitable for shipping, it is only suitable for industry,” he added.

The orchard emphasized that despite having insurance, in the future he may have a problem with its extension. “After this year's losses I will be treated as a damage client and I will not be able to insure the court for three years. It's pathology,” he said.

The minister also referred to the problem of availability of insurance. “We finance 65 percent of contributions, but insurance companies often use unfair practices. They find Kruczki to limit payments,” said Siekierski. As he announced, the ministry is conducting talks with companies and will intervene in this matter.

The data of the Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture shows that in 2024, over 5,000 received assistance in the Sandomierz poviat in connection with previous disasters. farms. The support amounted to PLN 60 million. “This year's situation shows that extreme weather phenomena are no longer incidents, but a permanent element of atmospheric reality,” said Agnieszka Nowakowska, a manager of the Sandomierz poviat office of ARMA. (PAP)

WDZ/ DKI/