Hurt by Russian embargo, Polish farmers hit roads in protest

(WARSAW) - Hundreds of Polish farmers on Wednesday tried to block roads with their tractors to the capital Warsaw, demanding government compensation for losses due to a Russian embargo on EU agricultural products.

Imposed in August, the embargo covers imports of meats, fruits and vegetables, fish, and dairy products from Australia, Canada, the European Union, Norway and the United States.

The move came in retaliation over a raft of Western sanctions imposed on Russia following its March 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula and subsequent meddling in eastern Ukraine.

Poland is asking the EU for around 26 million euros ($29 million) in compensation for the losses its farmers incurred because of the embargo.

Protesting farmers are asking for compensation for depressed diary and pork prices but also for damages caused by wild boar to their crops and livestock.

Before the sanctions, Russia absorbed seven percent of Polish agricultural exports in 2013, with 86 percent going to fellow EU members, notably neighbouring Germany, according to the Polish agriculture ministry.

"I'm here to protest because pork farming has become unprofitable," said a 40-something pig farmer from the central town of Lowicz who refused to reveal his name.

Standing in front of the agriculture ministry, he told AFP that wholesale pork prices have fallen by half to 0.71 euro per kilogramme from 1.42 euros since the Russian embargo came into effect.

Talks between the protesting farmers and the agriculture ministry faltered Wednesday.

The head of the OPZZ farmers union, Slawomir Izdebski, said farmers would again descend on Warsaw next week along with miners who have threatened protests over job cuts.

Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski called the demands for compensation "unrealistic" given that the current EU farm subsidies were negotiated years ago.

"It's obvious that elections are just around the corner," Komorowski said in response to the protest, referring to the May 10 presidential ballot and a parliamentary election this autumn. Komorowski is tipped as a shoo-in for a second term.