The grassroots National Farmers' Protest, organized by various agricultural groups, such as Agricultural Circles, Solidarity RI and the National Association of Sugar Beet Growers, gathered hundreds of participants. Flagged tractors were placed on national roads, including: DK10 and DK20 in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, DK22 in the Lubuskie Voivodeship and S5 in Greater Poland. Protests are also taking place in other regions, including: in the Pomeranian, Warmian-Masurian, Łódź and Masovian voivodeships.
Stanisław Barna, a farmer from the Choszczno district and co-organizer of the action, emphasized in an interview with PAP that the situation in agriculture is becoming more and more critical. He pointed to problems resulting from the European Union's agricultural policy, including the Mercosur agreement, and the effects of importing agricultural products from Ukraine. Barna emphasized that farmers expect talks with the Minister of Agriculture and the introduction of mechanisms to protect the Polish market.
Read also: Farmers will light candles in front of the Prime Minister's office. “This is the funeral of Polish agriculture”
Two-hour meetings
— We do not want to make life difficult for citizens, so the roads will not be blocked today Barna said. In the town of Pełczyce, tractors were placed on the square in front of the commune office, and agricultural machinery was planned to be transported in several other locations. On DK10 near Stargard and Recz, drivers may encounter temporary traffic disruptions when protesters cross pedestrian crossings.
Demonstrations are taking place in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, among others: in Węgorzyn, Drawsko Pomorskie, Pyrzyce, Szczecinek, Kołobrzeg and in several towns around Koszalin. Most gatherings are scheduled for two hours. A similar protest is taking place in Żnin, Greater Poland, on the S5 road, where – as organizer Marcin Bereźnicki said – farmers intend to draw drivers' attention to their problems for two hours.
Demonstrations are also taking place in other regions, including: on DK20 in Egiertów and Hopowo between Kościerzyna and Tricity, DK21 near Słupsk and DK59 between Mrągowo and Giżycko. In the Lubuskie Voivodeship, tractors appeared on DK22 in Strzelce Krajeńskie.
Rising production costs
Barna said that the assemblies had been registered for a month, which allows for a possible change in the form of protests. — At the beginning of September, we submitted a letter with 22 demands to the Minister of Agriculture, but we have not received a response so far, he noted. Among the most important demands of farmers is the creation of systemic solutions to protect the Polish agricultural market.
The organizers of the protests point out that the Mercosur agreement and the inflow of products from Ukraine have a negative impact on European agriculture, leading to a drop in prices, among others. wheat, corn or sugar. Barna pointed to rising production costs that outpace revenues. — The price per tonne of corn is approximately PLN 400, and production costs amount to PLN 4,000 per hectare. This makes production unprofitable – he concluded.
