Berlin, April 12 (SANA) – The president of the German Farmers’ Association, Joachim Rukwied, warned Sunday that rising agricultural production costs could lead to higher food prices in Germany in the coming months, urging the government to take urgent action.
In remarks reported by Al Jazeera, Rukwied said the sharp increase in diesel and fertilizer prices is placing heavy pressure on farmers, warning that continued inaction could reduce agricultural output and affect crop quality.
He added that such developments could directly translate into higher food prices starting next summer.
Rukwied noted that global prices for nitrogen fertilizers have risen by between 30 and 40 percent since the beginning of the year, while German farmers are paying roughly 30 percent more than last year.
He stressed that reducing fertilizer use is not a viable option because it would lower agricultural productivity and threaten food security.
The German Farmers’ Association called on the government to adopt a package of immediate measures, including suspending the carbon dioxide tax on diesel, temporarily reducing energy taxes, and halting the carbon border adjustment mechanism applied to fertilizers.
The association also urged closer monitoring of fertilizer prices in the market to prevent further cost pressures on farmers.
Kh.A
