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They feed and defend. This motto of the Kościuszko scythemen has become embedded in our Polish identity. Peasants feed the nation and defend it, that is, when they are not fighting, they work hard on the land, supplying society with the food they need to survive. This is how one of the greatest Polish maxims was born at the end of the 18th century. Is this wisdom more widely known in Europe? I doubt it.
Back on the pedestal
Agricultural producers have not always been appreciated. The 20th century saw mandatory food supplies introduced by communist governments as part of state agricultural purchases. Then we joined the EU and everything was normal. First, the CAP paid subsidies for production, then they were renamed historical payments. It doesn't matter what you produce, what matters is that you care about the environment – this is how the latest Common Agricultural Policy can be defined in a nutshell. This is, of course, a very large simplification of the rules applicable to agriculture in Europe, but after years of marginalizing the role of farmers, they have been put on a pedestal again.
They still remain the foundation. Their role increased after Russian aggression against Ukraine. They were on everyone's lips again as food security became a dominant topic in social discourse. Most conferences then began with a survey entitled: Is access to food at risk? Information about the bombed Ukrainian ports through which wheat flowed into the world did not give any peace, which is why respondents very often answered "yes". The ominous scenario has not come true so far, although we don't know what else awaits us?
Wisdom after the protests
Has anything changed recently, over the past year? Yes, a lot has changed. Farmers' protests spread across Europe and finally politicians started scratching their heads more and wondering what they were really talking about? Initially, they did not care about what was happening on the roads, but suddenly they changed their perception of reality and the future of farmers and agriculture.
Love for farmers is usually declared by politicians at special times. Such moments include: election campaigns and exposés. First we had elections to the local parliament, then to the European one. After them, we look at the formation of the new European Commission. The world has not gone crazy, this time it was and is the same – there is a lot of talk about farmers, but will the words be followed by actions?
What phrases stuck with me for a long time?
- The future of agriculture is a particularly important topic for us.
- We need to make sure that we come up with good solutions together.
- We have started a dialogue on the future of agriculture in Europe.
- I learn a lot, draw conclusions, and listen carefully.
- We will commission a new strategy for agriculture and the agri-food sector.
- Farmers create the landscape of Europe, they create the face of Europe.
- They guarantee our food security.
- We are all proud of you.
And the most important of them: I will be involved in ensuring that farmers have a guaranteed fair income, no one should be forced to sell good quality agricultural products below production costs.
Who are we talking about? Who said these sentences? I'm sure you know!. Yes, yes, it's about politics, and not just any politician.
I will not reveal which one it is about, I invite you to watch the next episode of "Ivan in Stocks", in which, together with the editor-in-chief of the portal farmer.pl, we comment on the above sayings. We also recall the words of another important politician who spoke in a very similar tone not so long ago.
It turns out that the apple didn't fall far from the tree.
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