During Monday’s meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, representatives of the National Pork Council presented their ideas for the development of the pig industry. Unfortunately, the ministry authorities have not yet provided an answer as to whether they will cooperate with industry representatives.
Let us remind you: representatives of the largest industry organizations associated with the National Pork Council took part in Monday’s meeting. These included Bogusław Prałat and Damian Kacprzak (Polish Association of Independent Pig Producers), Aleksander Dargiewicz (Polpig), Bartosz Czarniak (Polsus), Janusz Terka (Solidarity RI), Witold Choiński (Polskie Mięso), Lek. Wet Maciej Perzyna, Jacek Wlaźlak and Bogdan Kołodziejczak. On the ministerial side, the meeting was attended by the head of the ministry, Czesław Siekierski, as well as deputy ministers Michał Kołodziejczak and Jacek Czerniak, and other representatives of the ministry.
Pig population reconstruction strategy
One of the main topics undertaken by the industry was the return to work on developing a strategy for rebuilding the pig population. What does Bogusław Prałat, president of the Polish Association of Independent Pig Producers, think about the course of the meeting?
– The meeting took place in a friendly atmosphere, but there remains great dissatisfaction. We do not officially have any clear answer about the ministry’s willingness to cooperate. One of the reasons for this state of affairs may be the planned staff changes in the ministry, we hope that this was the reason why we did not receive official confirmation of the will to cooperate, nor was a specific person delegated to do so – says the farmer.
Let us remind you: in the draft livestock reconstruction strategy developed by KRW, special emphasis was placed on a more effective fight against ASF, a financial support mechanism for breeders and administrative simplifications for farmers who want to build or expand facilities.
There will be no “sow +”?
Many important aspects were touched upon during the discussion during the meeting. One of them was the issue of continuing subsidies for piglet production:
– As we have learned, it is not possible to continue this program for now, because the funds allocated in previous years came from the budget to support the losses suffered by Covid and the war in Ukraine – explains the Prelate.
Another aspect raised concerned the payment of compensation for losses suffered by breeders whose farms were in ASF red zones:
– No support has been paid for two years, and it is worth mentioning that the average amount of loss incurred as a result of being in the zone is approximately PLN 40. for one fattened pig – adds the expert.
Another important topic discussed during the meeting was improving the competitiveness of breeders towards food companies and retail chains, and the issue of proper labeling of the country of origin of pork.
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