Crimean farmers protest against construction of Chinese greenhouses

Crimean farmers are raising a red flag due to the potential interest from Chinese investors in the North-East part of the peninsula. They are not worried so much by the uneven competition as by the unregulated use of chemicals by the Chinese growers and low quality of produce, they say.

The unrest began after Mr. Oleg Kocherov, a pro-Russia activist and blogger published a video showing the Chinese way of greenhouse construction.

According to Mr. Ilia Bolshedvorov, the Chairman of the Anti-corruption Committee of the Crimea and the organizer of the rally Fooled Crimea, such agricultural projects cannot be called proper investments nor can the constructions built by the Chinese be called greenhouses.

Apparently, these are the same investment projects that were discussed in January after the meeting of Mr. Aleksandr Ryumshin, the Head of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Crimea (controlled by the Kremlin) with Chinese investors. It was announced back then that the Chinese representatives were going to invest 8.3 million euros in growing tomatoes, aubergines, cucumbers, carrots, garlic, melons, watermelons and berries in the Crimea.

According to Mr. Bolshedvorov, the protests of the Nizhnegorsk region population have forced the Chinese to disassemble the greenhouses. Protests in other areas continue but so far have not brought any significant results due to the low activity level.

Mr. Fyodor Rybalko, the Head of the Ukrainian Fruit and Vegetable Association, argues that the Chinese have no trust in the produce of their compatriots and would rather pay extra for vegetables delivered by plane, therefore import is growing in their homeland.

The expert says Crimean farmers have no reason for concern. They have dozens of years’ experience working in the given climate zone and a well-established distribution network. However, Mr. Bolshedvorov claims that because of the unstable ferry transportation, Russian wholesalers are not very eager to purchase Crimean produce and competition from the Chinese growers’ side can harm local growers.

Source: ru.agroday.com.ua