Farmers' Assembly discusses emergency aid for the crop sector with the Minister of Agriculture

Today, the leadership of the association "Farmers' Council" met with the Minister of Agriculture Jānis Dūklavas to discuss the possibility of the ministry turning to the European Commission (EC) to provide support from the crisis reserve fund for partial compensation for winter crops on farms that died as a result of frost. The organization called on the ministry to explain what other support mechanisms are possible to stabilize the situation.

Juris Lazdins, Chairman of the Association "Farmers' Council": "Currently, a critical situation has developed in crop production in Latvia as a result of frost on many farms. For example, in the largest grain-growing regions of Latvia - Zemgale and the Lubāna Plain - wheat has almost completely frozen out. Winter crops in other places in Latvia also look very bad."

Maira Dzelzkalēja, Deputy Chairwoman of the Board of the Association "Farmers' Council", admits: "Currently, farmers are intensively trying to find seed material in the Baltic region, it is in short supply and the price is unpleasantly high. We do not ask the Latvian government for compensation in the classical sense, but we call on the Minister of Agriculture to form a coalition with Lithuania and Poland, and to address the European Commission with a joint appeal to use the crisis fund. Also, to allow the disbursement of direct payments faster.”

Although the direct extent of the possible damage has not yet been calculated, according to a survey of the winter crop situation in Latvia conducted by the Latvian Rural Consultation and Education Center (LLKC), the worst situation is in Zemgale, where up to 90% of cereal crops will have to be resown. In the rest of Latvia, up to 70%. Members of the Jelgava Regional Council have already called on Prime Minister Laimdota Straujumas and the Ministry of Agriculture to provide support to cereal and rapeseed growers in connection with the catastrophic freezing and death of winter crop crops.