Dutch markeg gardeners are giving very little in the way of surplus fruit and vegetables to food banks despite the impact of the Russian boycott, BNR radio said on Friday.

Now the EU compensation scheme for farmers has been abandoned because of fraud, farmers have stopped giving away their unsold produce, the radio station said.

Pien de Ruig of the Dutch foodbank association says she is extremely disappointed. ‘We had high expectations but now we are not being given anything,’ she told the broadcaster.

The EU compensation scheme was announced on August 18 but halted on September 10 after a number of suspect claims.

Before the compensation scheme was stopped, foodbanks were being given supplies of apples, pears, bell peppers and tomatoes, De Ruig said. One of the aims of the compensation scheme had been to encourage growers to give surplus products to food banks.