- Rozwój Plus presented eight proposals for Polish agriculture.
- The proposals included rebuilding the pig population, reforming promotion funds and reducing bureaucracy.
- Farmers attending the forum drew attention above all to the profitability of production, financial liquidity and equal conditions for competition.
Eight proposals for Polish agriculture
Representatives of Rozwój Plus proposed rebuilding the pig population, reforming funds and reducing bureaucracy during a Saturday agricultural forum in Kazimierów near Konin (Greater Poland Voivodeship). Farmers who spoke to PAP viewed the proposals from Mateusz Morawiecki’s movement with skepticism.
Rozwój Plus organized the Nationwide Agricultural Forum on Saturday in Kazimierów near Konin. A stage was set up in the barn of a private farm, where representatives of Mateusz Morawiecki’s movement, together with union activists, presented eight proposals for Polish agriculture. These included rebuilding the pig population, reforming promotion funds and reducing bureaucracy.
In his speech, the former prime minister emphasized the role of targeted government interventions in crisis situations, but also noted that the state cannot completely replace market mechanisms. Morawiecki argued that the proposals presented had been developed jointly with agricultural trade unions. “Rozwój Plus will implement these proposals as soon as we return to the helm of government,” he declared.
Trade union representatives on promotion funds and cooperation with farmers
The forum featured Sławomir Izdebski, chairman of OPZZ Rolników i Organizacji Rolniczych, and Tomasz Obszański, chairman of NSZZ Rolników Indywidualnych "Solidarność". The trade union representatives criticized the current government’s actions and emphasized their successful cooperation with Morawiecki when he was prime minister. Izdebski also announced that the union would submit a bill on reforming and depoliticizing agricultural promotion funds.
Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski emphasized the role of cooperation with farmers. “There will never be a good strategy, and its subsequent implementation, if it does not take into account the views of Polish farmers. (…) This must be closely coordinated with farmers and their organizations so that these solutions are widely accepted,” said the former agriculture minister in Morawiecki’s government.
The forum brought together approximately 150 people. Farmers who spoke to PAP were cautious about Rozwój Plus’s proposals. “It all sounds wonderful, but it remains to be seen whether it will actually be implemented. We’ve been around long enough to know that only a third [of the proposals - PAP] will be implemented, no more,” said Stanisław Kozłowski.
As he emphasized, the most important challenges facing Polish agriculture today are restoring farm profitability and financial liquidity. He criticized the Morawiecki group’s pledge to work toward rebuilding the pig market. As he noted, a kilogram of live pigs is currently priced at approximately 4 zł net. “Those who have left livestock farming won’t return to it. Let’s not fool ourselves,” Kozłowski said.
A farmer from near Gniezno (Greater Poland Voivodeship), Maciej Pluta, had a similar view. “I came here out of curiosity. In my opinion, the people who spoke put their points across very well and very logically. It just needs to be put into practice. Whether that happens—life will show,” he told PAP.
Farmers want equal conditions for competition
In Pluta’s view, politicians should ensure that Polish agriculture can compete on equal terms with producers from Ukraine and Mercosur countries. “Polish farmers work very hard, but give us a chance to create a level playing field. Then we can compete. If competition is fair and we receive equal payment for our products, things should be better, in my opinion,” he said.
The Rozwój Plus agricultural forum was held in the Konin-Gniezno constituency. The constituency’s MP, formerly associated with PiS and now with Rozwój Plus, is Ryszard Bartosik. The former deputy agriculture minister told PAP that Mateusz Morawiecki’s political group could find its place among rural voters.
“We want to be ambitious, we want to take action and build our organization, but we also want to reach new people and different communities, including farmers, who are very important to us,” he said. Bartosik announced that Rozwój Plus would “make a major push” into the PSL electorate and that the group aimed to win a double-digit result in the constituency.
