Magdeburg – The Ukraine war is also causing uncertainty among farmers in Saxony-Anhalt. In addition to rising costs, it is still unclear whether enough helpers will come to the country this year for the harvest season, which will soon begin with the asparagus.
A spokesman for the Saxony-Anhalt Farmers’ Association warns that the political situation in Europe does not allow for a clear prognosis as to whether enough seasonal workers want to and are able to work in Germany.
In 2020, for example, around 5,400 harvest workers were needed in the country over the entire year.
“It is to be expected that the need for harvest helpers will be comparable to previous years,” explained the Magdeburg Ministry of Agriculture.
In this country, seasonal workers are mainly needed for so-called special crops such as asparagus or strawberries. Across Germany, the proportion of foreign seasonal workers is around 95 percent.
According to the Association of Agricultural Employers, around 65 percent come from Romania, 30 percent from Poland and the rest from other Eastern European countries.