What aid will the agricultural sector need after the coronavirus epidemic according to FBZPR?

The Federation of Agricultural Producers’ Unions has summarised problems and prepared demands with regard to aid required by individual sectors in the aftermath of coronavirus pandemic.

Members and supporting organisations of FBZPR have presented a statement on the impact of the spread of coronavirus on the condition of agricultural markets. A set of documents with a detailed description of the situation has already been filed with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

– Unfortunately, the collected information suggest that the condition of the agricultural sector is very poor and in some industries outright tragic. Traffic restrictions, border shutdown and transport hindrances have had a tragic impact on agriculture. As a federation concentrating all agricultural sectors in the country we have filed with the Ministry of Agriculture a list of demands we expect to be met and a summary description of crisis situation in most markets. We count on that―in line with assurances of the supreme national authorities―farmers and the agricultural sector will not be left to their own devices. “The country’s food safety is on the line,” warned Marian Sikora, President of FBZPR. He also emphasised the huge threat posed by obligatory quarantine that employees of converting plants must go through. In practice this may cause closures of abattoirs, dairies and mills, which may lead to a slump in sales.

The crisis is exacerbated by the lockdown of restaurants and bars, which were an important recipient of pork, beef and poultry. According to the Federation, until the government removers the introduced limitations this distribution channel is completely closed.

These are the suggested aids for farmers:

  • Deferring or cancelling KRUS (Farmer’s Social Security Fund) and ZUS (Social Security Institution) contributions,
  • Speeding up settlement of direct payments due for 2019,
  • Speeding up payments on account of drought aid for 2019,
  • Deferring credit repayments,
  • Increasing de minimis aid for 2020,
  • Deferring payments on account of agricultural tax and lease rent,
  • Shortening of Tax Offices’ deadline for VAT returns and temporary cancellation of the split payment system in relation to farmers who are VAT payers,
  • Simplifying procedures of taking out preferential loans,
  • Amending the Act on Social Security Scheme for Farmers as regards sickness benefits,
  • Intensified inspections as regards unfair reductions of prices for agricultural products and increasing food prices for consumers,
  • Launching purchases for state reserves of the goods that cannot be exported,
  • Developing procedures guaranteeing assistance to farmers who are unable to take care of livestock their due to quarantine,
  • Liberalising labour law regulations pertaining to employees that go through obligatory quarantine.

The above demands have been filed with the Ministry.

See also!

Od 1 listopada br. obowiązuje, split payment, czyli tzw. model podzielonej płatności dotyczący podatku VAT. Dowiedz się, kto musi go stosować oraz jaka grupa towarów i usług jest nim obligatoryjnie objęta w rolnictwie.