Farmers' Parliament evaluates 2019 in agriculture

As every year, this year too, the association "Farmers' Council" evaluated the outgoing year - 2019, summarized the most important events of the year in agriculture in 9 nominations and outlined the challenges of the industry for the next year - 2020!

Pride of the year. We are happy and pleased that this year several of our members were noticed and recognized nationally. For his lifelong contribution to the development of agriculture and the national economy in Latvia, the President of the Republic awarded the Cross of Commendation, IV class, and appointed the founder of the “Zemnieku saeima” and farmer Jānis Dzelzkalējas an officer of the order. Guna and Gunvaldis Sproģi, owners of the “Joži” farm, won the Latvian Employers’ Confederation of the Year Award as the best employer in the agricultural sector. Gunta Biteniece, owner of SIA “Brīvzemnieki”, won the “Sējējs” award in the “Farmer of the Year” nomination. Rihards Kadirovs, owner of the “Jaunozoli” farm, became the Latvian winner in the “Farmer of the Year in the Baltic Sea Region” competition organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature. We are proud of every member of the “Zemnieku saeima” who successfully works, develops and makes our country stronger!

Annual harvest. Change of leadership in the Rural Support Service. Not every country could afford to terminate employment relations with one of the best heads of institutions.

Loss of the year. From this year, farmers will not receive the payment for areas with natural or other specific constraints (ADSI) or MLA payment. The reason for the suspension of the payment is the lack of funds in this planning period.

Hope for the years to come. Latvian fruits and vegetables will take their place even more confidently in the Latvian consumer market. The “Fruit for School” program, voluntary coupled support, reduced VAT and seasonal agricultural workers' income tax rebate still do not contribute to the dominance and predominance of local fruits and vegetables on store shelves. We hope for positive changes in the coming years!

Topicality of the year. This year, the experts of the “Farmers' Parliament” worked very intensively both in Riga and in Brussels, searching for the best solutions and fighting for the positions of Latvian farmers in the next planning period. The harshness of discussions on the common agricultural policy is increasing in Europe and fierce battles for European money continue! The European Commission's offer for the next seven years is unacceptable to Latvian farmers.

Annual congestionFarmers across Latvia faced problems collecting and recycling used plastic packaging this year.

Challenge of the year. Finding a way to work with the new government and the aggressively attacking “green wave” that demands a change in the usual way of farming. We need to find a way to maintain a balance between production and nature protection.

Joy of the year. After two previous years, Latvian farmers were not affected by widespread natural disasters this year. There were some local natural disasters, but overall it was a good year!

Goal of the year. Nothing is predictable in agriculture! A farmer's everyday life is both black and white keys. The task for farmers next year will be to continue learning, accumulate "fat" and prepare for the future, possible, "lean" years.

PRESS RELEASE_The Farmers' Parliament evaluates 2019 in agriculture