EU compensation to farmers at mere 11 percent

The Polish Agricultural Market Agency has received 1,500 requests for help from Polish farmers. Because of the large interest, the Agency's rate of allocation of compensation to farmers hit by the recent Russian embargo is around 11 to 12 percent. Altogether, the European Union has allocated funds for 18,750 tons of apples and 3,000 tons of other fruit and vegetables to be compensated to Polish farmers. These products can be donated to charity or simply left unharvested. The total EU compensation amount is €165 million. Many farmers will forego the process, as the refund may not be worthwhile, according to Witold Piekarniak of the Fruit Farmers Union. Fruit farmers are currently in a precarious position with virtually no market for crops held in refrigeration.