Polish election results are yet to bring political change to the country, with negotiations to form a new coalition government scheduled to start soon. It could be a lengthy process, at the end of which a new government will find itself handling several hot potatoes left behind by the outgoing administration.

One of these tricky issues is that of Ukrainian grain imports, which are seriously harming domestic farming in Poland. The incumbent government issued a ban on the Ukrainian grain imports in an attempt to protect domestic producers and win additional votes in the build-up to elections earlier this month. 

But farmers say the problem remains and threatens their survival. To find out the exact nature of the problem we went to check out a family farm some 120 kilometers northeast of Warsaw in the village of Jasienica. 

There we met Miroslaw Piotrowski and his wife. Piotrowski is a third-generation farmer who has expanded his farm to 150 hectares (1.5 square kilometers) and 70 cows. 

He welcomed us into their home with true Polish warmth and an open heart. At the table where we were seated was bacon, fresh tomato salad, gherkins, and homemade cherry brandy, all products proudly made by his family.

But now this family's farm faces an existential threat after the influx of cheap Ukrainian grain.

"We have no chance to compete with Ukraine." Piotrowski told us. "Energy is cheap there, and the soil is good. The chemicals and pesticides they use are obsolete, we used them 30 years ago."

He added: "Their production costs pennies. We pay between $240 to $360 per hectare for chemicals to protect grain. They are doing it for under $50. If it continues like this and Poland's policy remains as it is, soon there will be no Polish agriculture."

Piotrowski also shared with CGTN the experience of his friends from a cattle farm in the town of Poznan. He said the ranchers there had to send 500 of their cattle to the slaughterhouse because they could not sustain the rising costs of their dairy farm amid a significant drop in milk prices. 

Piotrowski's frustration with the entire situation is palpable and reflects the feelings of many Polish farmers who blame their situation on the imports of cheap Ukrainian grain.

Marcin Gryn, Vice President of the Polish Cereals Producers Association, confirmed that the situation is the same across the industry, as Polish farmers cannot compete with imports from Ukraine.

Gryn told CGTN: "Agriculture in Ukraine is large-scale, based on large corporations and farms, whereas agriculture in Poland is family farming. Farms are smaller, with lower productivity and more expensive production. It's hard for me to believe that this can change a lot because of this government majority that was just elected."

There is little optimism on Piotrowski's farm either. He doesn't think that the new government will bring the change that he and other local farmers need. The next Polish government will find themselves in a difficult position, having to choose between unconditional, full support for Ukraine or the interests of its farmers.

Subscribe to Storyboard: A weekly newsletter bringing you the best of CGTN every Friday