During a meeting with local farmers representatives in the town of Przyborowice, Świetokrzyskie Voivodeship, he stressed that he understands and respects the protesters demands, adding that prolonged road blocking could cause serious problems for Poles and the Polish economy.
The protests, which include blockades of the country's border crossings with Ukraine, come amid a wave of similar demonstrations in other EU countries and reflects broader discontent among agricultural producers across the bloc.
Farmers in France, Belgium, Portugal, Greece and Germany have been protesting against EU measures to tackle climate change as well as rising costs and unfair competition from abroad, the Reuters news agency has reported.
During his meeting with farmers on Friday, minister Siekierski added that the introduction of EU environmental requirements must not come at the expense of farmers.
Polish farmers have voiced disgruntlement with the impact of cheap food imports from Ukraine.
"Our patience has run out," they said in a statement released last week. "Brussels' position ... is unacceptable for our entire agricultural community," they added.
Minister Siekierski said on Friday that the Polish government was discussing the issue "at the level of the European Commission when it comes to the Green Deal, to reduce these requirements that make farmers lives impossible, that are unnecessary, that don't do anything for agriculture."
"Everyone has become a defender of the environment, and that's good, but it can't be at the expense of farmers," the minister said.
Polish farmers from the Solidarity trade union last week announced "a general strike," criticising the government for being passive in the face of growing imports of farm produce from Ukraine.
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Source: IAR, PAP