Farmers expect from the CAP, but also from the Polish government, a guarantee of stability and predictability for farm activities, as well as equal farming conditions. – It would also be useful to have a law that would allow for long-term and hereditary leases, respect large farms and support their initiatives – says Agnieszka Tołłoczko-Wróbel in an interview with farmer.pl. A farmer from Szkotów in Nidzica County will be a guest of a debate on the future of agriculture during the session “Common Agricultural Policy and Polish agriculture”, which will be held during the European Economic Congress.
Mrs. Agnieszka runs an agricultural (processing) farm with an area of 1,000 ha, located in the Kozłowo commune, Nidzica district. Half of the land is leased. It is a farm with a plant profile, and its main focus is the cultivation of high-quality potatoes (seed, edible, starch). Cereals, rapeseed and beetroot are also grown here. Since the beginning of taking over the farm from her father – Mr. Bolesław Tołłoczko – Mrs. Agnieszka has been introducing innovations and, in addition to the team of workers she employs, she herself and her children (who received agricultural education) work in the field.
– I would like farms like mine to be appreciated by the state. So that we don’t focus only on small family farms. Let’s be honest, they are not the ones that ensure our country’s food security, admits Agnieszka Tołłoczko.
CAP and Polish agriculture
A farmer from Szkotów in Nidzica County will be a guest of a debate on the future of agriculture during the session “Common Agricultural Policy and Polish agriculture”, which will be held on May 9 this year. during the European Economic Congress.
We asked Mrs. Agnieszka what farmers like her expect from the CAP?
– Farmers expect from the CAP, both current and future, but also from the Polish government, a guarantee of stability and predictability for activities undertaken on the farm, as well as equal farming conditions – said the farmer in an interview with farmer.pl.
She mentioned the differences in the amount of direct subsidies in various EU member states, constantly changing regulations – both national and EU, and the announcement of radical changes in the use of plant protection products, although – as she said – “we receive goods from outside with exceedances or substances prohibited”. And she added:
– It would also be useful to have a law that would allow for long-term and hereditary leases, and would also respect large farms in various regulations and support their initiatives. And cheap investment loans.
Government support needed
The farmer from Szkotów would very much like other EU countries to support Poland more, as the country that “loses” the most from the situation in Ukraine, and that the national agricultural policy would focus more on support for farms, but not the typical subsidy type, only, for example, promotional on foreign markets.
– Potatoes from Szkotów are already reaching distant markets in Europe and Africa. The Polish seed potato industry has a great future and can play a significant role, but we need promotional (diplomatic) support from the government – admitted Agnieszka Tołłoczko.
But not only.
– I travel through the Egyptian desert and see that the local government completely finances the entire irrigation infrastructure, which it then leases to the farmer, thanks to which he harvests potatoes twice a year. Both the government and the farmer make money. Similar solutions should be used in Poland, the farmer believes.
In addition – in her opinion – the Polish government, in addition to the issue of irrigation, should also support Polish storage and refrigeration and think about some form of support for farmers in changing the production profile.
– We no longer need subsidies for agricultural machinery, because we already have great ones – added Agnieszka Tołłoczko.
– .
