Plans for an "agricultural" CPK? Kołodziejczak does not want to beg for a port in Ukraine

Let's not make beggars of ourselves. We can afford such investments – says Michał Kołodziejczak, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, to "Gazeta Wyborcza" about the plan to build a port in Ukraine and lease land in that country for Polish state-owned companies. He admitted that he has a conflict with PSL and the head of the ministry, Czesław Siekierski.

In an interview published in Thursday's "GW", Michał Kołodziejczak points out that there are currently too many departments in the Ministry of Agriculture.

"This makes it difficult to control. They are not adapted to the current times, they are remnants of the 90s. Back then, the structure of agriculture was different and the ministry faced different challenges. I would put much more effort into departments dealing with analysis, better monitoring of the current situation and focusing on the goals we want to achieve in 10 or even 20 years. The ministry should have a leading role in working on positive changes in farms, because they have to change so that farmers can live well. Helping those who have problems or are temporarily doing worse is obvious, but we cannot only deal with those who complain all the time, who only want subsidies and compensation," Kołodziejczak told "GW".

According to the deputy minister, the state must have real tools to civilize the food market in the name of consumer rights.

"Now is the time to create the "Agricultural CPK"" - he emphasizes. "I would strongly support the transfer of the National Sugar Company to the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture from the Ministry of State Assets, where it was forced during the times of PiS and Minister Jacek Sasin. I would like the state to take control of this company so that it could really develop. It should have shares in processing plants, in stores, and expand its operations" - he explains.

Kołodziejczak also refers to trade relations with Ukraine.

"The Germans and the French are talking about investments with Ukraine, the Italian government has just allocated EUR 11 million for agricultural investments. And two weeks ago, Dutch agribusiness began talks about joint investments with Ukraine in the agri-food industry. We cannot put ourselves on the sidelines. I believe that we need to invest in Ukraine, and President Aleksander Kwaśniewski is of a similar opinion. We need to get there quickly. Kwaśniewski contacted me himself when he heard about this idea. He has good contacts in Ukraine and claims that the other side is interested. President Kwaśniewski himself suggested that we create a joint team to prepare a detailed concept for a port in Ukraine. (...) We will have control over what is happening on one of the most important trade routes in the world, namely through the Black Sea," says the deputy head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. (PAP)

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