Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Tuesday that the government is prepared to amend the state budget in order to compensate farmers for losses, as the issue is of "fundamental importance."

"We, the state, the government, are prepared to compensate losses," the PM stated at a press conference. "If needs be, we will make amendments to the budget law, because paying these damages for farmers is of fundamental importance to us."

The prime minister pointed out that the government had adopted an aid programme at its Tuesday sitting for agricultural and fishing economies damaged this year by drought and floods.

The government has earmarked PLN 799.5 million (EUR 186.8 million) from the state budget for the programme, of which PLN 697 million (EUR 162.9 million) is to cover the subsidy for destroyed crops.

Agriculture Minister Jan Ardanowski announced that farmers who have suffered losses exceeding 70 percent of their crop will receive a PLN 1,000 (EUR 233) subsidy per hectare.

The PM appealed to all district authorities to honestly and effectively estimate the damage sustained to crops. He highlighted that in the north-central Kujawsko-Pomorskie province, out of 144 gminas, the smallest units of local government, only two had informed the province authorities of their estimated damage.

Mateusz Morawiecki announced that the subject of soft fruits had also been discussed at the government's sitting, as well as ways to prevent various types of dishonest practice.

"We have the Office for Competition and Consumer Protection, but that office hasn't been equipped to date with instruments to minimilise the effects of monopolistic practices," the PM observed. He added that the government "wants to increase the power of farmers in market terms.

Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 International, PAP