The proposals in the “agricultural dozen” are reasonable – they just require clarification. Farmers are concerned about the future of agriculture and expect all political parties to support their demands, presidential adviser Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski told PAP.
““Agricultural Dozen”
“The “Agricultural Dozen” was drawn up by the two largest agricultural unions in Poland: OPZZ Farmers and Agricultural Organizations and NSZZ Individual Farmers “Solidarity”. The demands include: opposition to limiting the production of meat and animal products and limiting the breeding of farm animals in Poland. The objection also concerns the ban on the slaughter of animals for religious purposes.
Ardanowski, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2018-2020, ruled that these were reasonable proposals but needed clarification.
Some of them are slogans rather than specific proposals, but this is irrelevant as they can be clarified during the process of creating legislation.
– he pointed.
He stated that farmers are not only concerned about immediate problems, “of which there are many”, but especially about the future of agriculture.
They are concerned about the stability of agricultural production in Poland, its predictability and economic conditions. Therefore, agricultural communities presented the twelve most important postulates regarding the future of agriculture in Poland
– noted the President’s adviser.
““Many farms are stuck.”
As he explained, farmers’ proposals cover several areas.
First and foremost, they want stability in agricultural loans. The point is to find a mechanism for debt relief in agriculture, especially since many farms are in debt crisis and cannot repay their loans.
– he noted.
They also want a certain guarantee for agricultural production in rural areas, so that they do not have to limit it immediately
– he said.
Ardanowski mentioned increasing spending on scientific research, increasing funds for new technologies and innovative solutions in agriculture as the next area that farmers can focus on.
They are essential if we want to face the competition
– he assessed.
Another postulate states that food products that do not meet EU standards should not be imported into Poland. This seems obvious
– added.
Another group of demands is to guarantee the safety of the continuation and development of livestock farming in Poland. This is the area most at risk of changes to the Common Agricultural Policy and what the EU wants to impose
– said the adviser to the president.
Ideology and animal breeding
He emphasized that farmers demanded that animal breeding not be liquidated for ideological reasons.
They also want the slaughter of animals for religious purposes to be maintained, because the main export area of beef, which is a big opportunity in Poland, is Muslim countries.
– he explained.
He added that farmers also expect that “there will never be permission for the so-called pseudo-ecological organizations “animal defenders could enter farms and take animals under the pretext of poor living conditions.”
Of course we must work for the well-being of farmers, but we cannot allow organizations that profit from this and make a fortune to violate property rights, disturb the peace in the home and take away animals.
– he said. He emphasized that only state institutions should be responsible for this.
According to Ardanowski, farmers expect representatives of all political parties to sign the demands.
PiS accepts it and has signed it, PSL MP Marek Sawicki has also signed it, but I would expect representatives of KO and Left to sign it too. However, I’m afraid I won’t make it
– he concluded.
READ MORE:
– ONLY HERE. The head of “Solidarity” RI on the “agricultural twelve”: The countryside, the farmers are our national asset, the Polish raison d’être. There are concerns about the future
– ONLY HERE. Head of OPZZ RiOR: We want to hear from all groups in parliament what their position is on the ‘agricultural twelve’
yes/DAD
Source: wPolityce