The snow lay deep around as I began my tramp through the villages of the North Ukraine, the part of Russia which once fed Europe and was known as the granary of the world.
I decided therefore to walk along the railway tracks, for if I penetrated into the country I should be lost in the snow and perhaps never return.
The first words I heard were ominous, for an old peasant woman moving with difficulty along the track answered my greeting with that phrase, “Hleba nietu” (“there is no bread”).
“For two months we have had no bread here,” she added in that deep crying voice which most of the peasant women had.
“Many are dying in the village. Some huts have potatoes, but many of us have only cattle fodder left, and that will only last another month.”
She moved away and I stood watching her bent, ugly, tragic figure outlined against the snow.
The Next village to which I came had an unearthly quietness about it and it was long before I came upon any living being.
John Kerry has advocated reducing US agriculture production vis a vis climate concerns.
The eu has attempted to reduce Dutch farming as well. Although, Dutch farmers recently won a big election….