Against the backdrop of a major grain controversy, Polish farms are grappling with ongoing challenges that have piled up over months, including spikes in energy costs and fertilizer prices. A parliamentary figure claimed that the ruling party had reshaped the Polish countryside through its policies.
“Neither the Agriculture Ministry nor the Prime Minister are willing to address this directly.”
Members of the opposition called out the government at a press conference outside the governing party headquarters in Warsaw, asking five pointed questions about the grain situation and its broader impact on farmers.
The grain scandal continues to cast a shadow over Polish agriculture, with farmers facing growing daily pressures that accumulate over time, according to the opposition speakers.
The questions included why a record share of farmland has shifted into foreign ownership during the current administration, why grain from neighboring regions entered the country without thorough testing, why no decisive steps were taken for months to manage the grain crisis, why imported Danish and German meat products appear on Polish tables, and why dairy producers are facing bankruptcy risks.
The opposition representative argued that the ruling party had dramatically altered the rural landscape, pointing to rising maintenance costs, energy and fertilizer prices, imports from abroad, and land sales as major stressors for farmers.
One speaker noted that the government and the Ministry of Agriculture preferred not to discuss the topic openly, adding that the issue has become a fixture in daily policy debates.
Kosiniak-Kamysz: “A change for the better is needed”
The Polish countryside requires a meaningful shift, argued PSL President Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz during a briefing in Wiśnicz Mały in Lesser Poland. He spoke to journalists gathered at a farm and emphasized that the countryside currently lacks a strong advocate to drive a positive transformation.
Kosiniak-Kamysz outlined a clear plan for rural Poland and the nation, describing the PSL as a constructive host ready to champion a better future for the countryside.
He warned that farmers and ranchers operate under unstable income and unpredictable conditions, stressing that the current situation is unacceptable and that farms are under increasing pressure day by day.
During a Sejm session focused on agriculture, Kosiniak-Kamysz indicated that the PSL would present proposals addressing issues such as a designated mechanism for intervention purchases and the ongoing influx of agricultural and food products from Ukraine, beyond a limited range of grains.
He criticized the grain port project as lagging behind, comparing it to a missed opportunity for investment in a broader logistics hub that could bolster grain exports from Gdańsk.
“The problem will persist and may worsen.”
In another development, PSL leaders announced plans to push bills at the next Sejm session that would introduce a uniform deposit system for all agri-food products and raise the share of renewable bio-components in fuels.
According to Kosiniak-Kamysz, PSL remains the sole party with a sustained presence in rural Poland, arguing that other parties leave agriculture as a topic only when it is in the spotlight.
He noted that the issue was prominent in the media a few weeks ago but has since faded from headlines, while the challenges continue to grow, extending to soft fruit and other sectors.
He described life in the countryside as increasingly precarious, suggesting that farmers must be supported to maintain food security and the vitality of rural communities.
He reminded listeners that the PSL has formed an alliance with Poland 2050 to amplify rural voices in the next parliament.
The PSL agenda emphasizes stabilizing farm incomes, diversifying revenue sources—from farming operations to green energy projects like solar parks or biogas plants—and expanding farmer participation in processing and sales through cooperatives.
“Without it, villages will lose their character.”
The president of PSL argued that people who live in the countryside but do not depend on farming should still be able to farm for personal use and local markets without unnecessary restrictions while maintaining direct sales options.
He suggested a relaxation of registration and inspection regimes for small-scale farming activities, calling for a modern reimagining of rural life that keeps villages vibrant and future-focused while honoring agricultural traditions.
He closed by reaffirming the party’s commitment to reviving the village as a thriving community, not a relic of the past, and to making rural life sustainable for the generations to come.
— End of report —
Attribution: reports compiled from event remarks and press briefings in Poland.