Polish Potato Growers protest against low prices

For the second time in just a few weeks, Polish potato producers have protested against low prices.

Growers of the Unia Warzywno-Potato Union gathered in front of the Lodz Agricultural Advisory Centre in Bratoszewice, waiting for a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture to be able to present their postulates.

Before entering the building in Kościerzyna, the producers threw potatoes on the stairs. The centre was hosting a session of the Sejm Agriculture and Rural Development Committee.

Michał Kołodziejczak, President of the Union of Vegetable and Potato Producers:

“In this way, we want to stress how dire the market situation is not just for potatoes, but also for other vegetables.”

“The throwing of potatoes was meant to show that it is better to throw them away than to market them for a loss, given the current prices.”

For a sack of potatoes (15 kg), the producer gets 4 zloty (about 0.92 Euro), and the production costs amount to 8 zloty, stressed Kołodziejczyk. Michał Kołodziejczak:

“Nobody can make a living from the crop with these prices, and we are sleeping just 4 to 6 hours a day.”

The growers in the protest came, among other places, from Sieradz, Sandomierz, Ostrów Wlkp., Łęczyca, Maków Mazowieck and Krakow.