Jan Grabiec, chief of staff to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, said during a press conference on Thursday that the assistance plan is designed to stabilize the market by exporting surplus grain stored by farmers ahead of the upcoming harvest season.
This temporary aid, funded by a special assistance fund created due to the war in Ukraine, includes compensatory payments to those who sold their grain at reduced prices during ongoing negotiations with the government.
Farmers who sold grain from January 1 to March 10 will receive PLN 200 (EUR 45, USD 50) per ton, while those who sell from March 11 to the end of May will receive PLN 300 per ton.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Michał Kołodziejczak explained that these payments are calibrated to hectare-based yields as per European Union regulations and are intended to ensure financial stability for farmers, enabling them to continue their operations without disruptions.
Agriculture Minister Czesław Siekierski said that the prospect of these payments has already accelerated grain exports, helping to empty storage facilities in preparation for harvest.
Siekierski also noted challenges in the agricultural sector, such as low pig populations, and confirmed that efforts are underway to promote livestock production to maintain balance in the market.
Further details on this assistance will be available through the Agricultural Restructuring and Modernization Agency (ARiMR), officials said.
Farmers from across Poland descended on Warsaw last month to vent their anger at the EU's Green Deal and the unregulated import of agricultural products from Ukraine, a massive protest that culminated in clashes with the police near the Polish parliament.
The EU's Green Deal is a set of policies designed to fight climate change and protect biodiversity.
The Green Deal has been protested by farmers in most EU member states over the last few months.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP