Russia: Local residents fear Chinese greenhouse invasion

Local residents of the Ostrov District are concerned about the appearance of Chinese migrant workers in the Pskov region. They consider them "environmental terrorists" who will actively use pesticides, and "other poisons" for growing greenhouse vegetables.

80.5 hectares of land in the area have not been in operation for 25 years. The General Director of LLC "Rich Harvest" Tatiana Surovtseva bought the land and decided to build greenhouses. Chinese investors have been invited to take part in the project.

"If we employ foreigners, we will be responsible for them," said the General Director, who has indirectly confirmed the information that the citizens of China will grow vegetables in new build greenhouses. "We plan to employ local residents too. These are new jobs that have not been created in the area for many years. Local residents are unemployed or went to work in the neighbouring regions. The population rejected a new project in its infancy, not even trying to see the benefits for themselves. Once received the land for free from the state, they just sold their land shares without even trying to cultivate them. And as soon as someone started to use the land, they began to spread rumours, panic and protest," – she added.