Another stage of farmers’ protests against the European Union trade agreement with Mercosur countries is taking place today in Kielce. “We, Polish farmers, will defend what is ours – our farms, Polish land. Above all – we appeal to the members of our society to support us in our actions,” said Tomasz Ognisty, deputy chair of the Independent Farmers’ Trade Union “Solidarity” (NSZZ RI).
Another stage of the farmers’ protest organized by the Independent Farmers’ Trade Union “Solidarity” (NSZZ RI) is taking place today in Kielce.
Tomasz Obszański, chair of the Independent Farmers’ Trade Union “Solidarity” (NSZZ RI), listing the reasons for the strike by Polish farmers, pointed out that “society should know that the products that will flow into our country will be of very low quality. Polish food is of very high quality. That is why – farmers should produce, and consumers should consume that production.”
Farmers’ protest in Warsaw – already on Friday, 9 January
He also announced a large, nationwide protest in the capital.
The main goal of the protest, coordinated by the Grassroots Nationwide Farmers’ Protest, remains unchanged – a firm opposition to the European Union’s trade agreement with Mercosur countries. Friday’s protest is to be the culmination of previous actions, organized just ahead of negotiations in Brussels. A large protest will take place in Warsaw on Friday. The Independent Farmers’ Trade Union “Solidarity” (NSZZ RI) and farmers from all over the country will come to speak out loudly about what they oppose. Mercosur is one issue. The inflow of products from Ukraine is another. Thirdly, cheap products for which our enterprises do not pay as much as they should. There are many threats that Polish farmers are facing today. These farms have numerous problems – high input costs and heavy investment in production that farmers must currently bear. We are doing everything to present to society our concerns and the threats to family farms, Obszański said. As he added, “President Karol Nawrocki is doing everything he can to ensure that both the European Green Deal, low prices, and the Mercosur agreement affect Polish farmers as little as possible. He has spoken with Giorgia Meloni, who is hesitating about a blockade. The president is doing everything to minimize the effects of this agreement and all these threats. An agricultural council has been established at the president’s office, which is also working on these issues.”
“Even if this agreement is signed, everything will have to be done to minimize its effects, so that our Polish farms can continue to produce normally and remain on both the Polish and European markets. Today, these markets may be taken away from us. We cannot allow that. We stand here together, as farmers, with this message. You cannot talk about agriculture without farmers,” appealed the chair of the Independent Farmers’ Trade Union “Solidarity” (NSZZ RI).
“Let our appeal reach Poles”
During the protest in Kielce, Tomasz Ognisty, deputy chair of the Independent Farmers’ Trade Union “Solidarity” (NSZZ RI), also spoke.
“We have gathered here today so that our appeal reaches Polish society – so that it reaches citizens. Today, Poles, in 99 percent, do their shopping in supermarkets. In foreign supermarkets. These supermarkets are not ours. We are dependent. Foreign retail chains have practically monopolized the retail market in Poland. Slaughterhouses do not belong to us. Piglets and livestock are imported from abroad. We went from 17 million pig farms we had a dozen or so years ago down to 6. There is no shortage of pork in supermarkets. We, as the ‘Solidarity’ of Individual Farmers, want to win society over. Mercosur is an enormous threat – above all to Polish farmers and Polish family farms. In a moment, it will also undermine the health of Polish citizens. We do not agree to this. We are being told that there is a free market and that we want to compete. How are we supposed to compete if in Mercosur – 13 kg of chemical agents are used per hectare, while in Poland – 2.5? What kind of competition are we talking about?” he explained.
Ognisty continued, “we see who is behind all this – German policy. The media here are silent about who took over Monsanto, a global company that in South America, just a dozen or so years ago, had around 80 million hectares of agricultural land. Today, Monsanto belongs to Germany. All chemical companies producing heavy chemicals for agriculture are in German hands. In Europe, Polish farmers are subjected to higher standards, plant protection products are withdrawn, with claims that this is about protecting the health of our citizens.”
On the other hand, a river of food produced outside any standards will flow into Europe. This protest is not a protest in support of the government, as some media present it. Actions by the Polish People’s Party (PSL) also constantly claim that they support the project of individual farmers. I would just like to remind everyone that we recently held the Polish presidency of the Council of the EU. We could have resolved a number of issues – not only for Polish agriculture but also for Polish industry. We resolved nothing. We were ridiculed on the last day of the presidency, when the EU signed trade liberalization with Ukraine. Trade with Ukraine is another threat to Polish farmers. We are not able to compete with these huge farms from Ukraine, which largely belong to German and Dutch farmers. They have their capital there. This food will be produced there outside any standards, he continued.
He also referred to previous farmers’ protests, describing them as “a spark for further actions.”
Here in Kielce, a “green town” has been built. Such “towns” should be created in all provincial capitals across the country. Soon, such a “town” will be established in Warsaw. “We, Polish farmers, will defend what is ours – our farms, Polish land. Above all – we appeal to the members of our society to support us in our actions,” he appealed.