The Farmers' Assembly calls on municipalities to support their farmers

Aware of the situation of farmers, which was negatively affected this year by the Russian Federation's food embargo, African swine fever, losses caused by frost and unfavorable weather conditions for harvesting, in order to maintain competitiveness in the common market, the association "Farmers' Council" (ZSA) calls on municipalities to reduce the real estate tax rate for its members in 2015 for agricultural land by 50% from the current rate for agricultural land owned or managed by the taxpayer.
 
Juris Lazdins, Chairman of the Association "Farmers' Council": "This year is particularly difficult for farmers and one could say that their resilience and the viability of the company, both in crop and livestock farms, are being tested. In such situations, every support instrument is important for Latvian farmers to maintain their competitiveness in the common market, therefore we call on local governments to understand the situation and apply the relief provided for by law. It is also necessary to be aware that agricultural companies are among the largest taxpayers and job providers in local governments, and in such situations, joint cooperation is of particular importance."
 
The association "Farmers' Council" has sent a letter to almost all Latvian municipalities with an appeal to evaluate the possibility and promote the development of entrepreneurship in rural areas, by supporting their entrepreneurs and reducing the real estate tax in 2015 for agricultural land by 50% from the current rate.
PRes Invitation to the local government