Polish farmers are considering resuming protests after completing their fieldwork, citing concerns over the impact of agricultural imports from Ukraine. These imports are disrupting the domestic market for soft fruits, particularly raspberries, where prices have seen a sharp decline.
Currently, Polish raspberry growers receive only 6.5 to 7 PLN per kilogram, which is below the level of profitability. Farmers fear that prices could drop even further due to the influx of cheaper Ukrainian fruit.
"This amounts to several thousand tons," said Sylwester Dziewulski from the Lublin Chamber of Agriculture, explaining that the recent drop in prices is linked to these imports. The issue is serious for local farmers, even when Ukrainian raspberries do not enter Poland directly, as they often reach other international markets.
Poland struggles to compete with Ukraine on the global stage due to Ukraine's significantly lower production costs. Additionally, Ukrainian farmers are not subject to the strict environmental regulations required by the European Union. This gives them a competitive advantage, leading to fears that Poland could lose important export markets. Traditionally, Polish frozen raspberries have been sold to Scandinavian countries, but now Ukrainian producers are targeting this market as well.
Farmers are urging the Polish government to take action by imposing limits on imports. "These imports should supplement our market, not destroy it," Dziewulski said, stressing the need for better border controls. Despite existing systems, many goods are entering unchecked.
If no action is taken, farmers warn they may resume protests once their fieldwork concludes.
Source: radiomaryja.pl