Let's meet with the Minister of Finance

On Friday, January 9 at 11:00, leaders of farmers' non-governmental organizations and dairy processing companies will meet with Finance Minister Jānis Reiras at the Ministry of Finance to discuss current issues in agriculture.

Juris Lazdins, Chairman of the Association "Farmers' Council": "Latvian farmers still receive the lowest direct payments in the European Union. In order to strengthen the competitiveness of our farmers in the common market, every support mechanism is important for farmers - both direct and indirect. These constructive meetings are very important for us, because in this way we can inform the leadership of the Ministry of Finance about important indirect support for farmers through tax policy, which would promote employment and settlement in rural regions."

Latvian Agricultural Cooperative AssociationDeputy Chairwoman of the Board, Chairwoman of the Board of LPKS "Piena ceļš" Ilze Aizsilniece: This introductory meeting with Finance Minister Jānis Reiras is very important for farmers, because there are a number of important issues that await a solution directly from the ministry he leads. As one of the most important, I will mention a reduced VAT for healthy, fresh food. It must be understood that our competitiveness with such a high VAT on food is at risk. In Latvia, VAT is more than four times higher than in Poland, where buyers pay 5% when purchasing food.

Edgars Treibergs, Chairman of the Cooperation Council of Farmers' Organizations (LOSP): "We are for populated and economically active rural areas - as a result of tax policy, we can influence the processes taking place in the country. Therefore, such meetings are important so that lawmakers and farmers, who must comply with specific norms in life, can agree in joint discussions on what is needed for farmers and what the state, in this case the Ministry of Finance, can do for the benefit of rural residents and farmers, in order to implement the national economic development scenario and promote a fair tax policy."

During the meeting, the issue of colored (labeled) diesel fuel intended for agricultural work, possible reliefs for agricultural land (including state duty, corporate income tax rebate, reinvested profits for land acquisition) and raising real estate tax on uncultivated agricultural land owned by legal entities (up to 5%) will be discussed.

Given the current situation in the dairy industry, we will discuss options for stabilizing the industry. We will also discuss the issue of reducing the value-added tax rate for healthy food, increasing the rate for unhealthy food, and employing seasonal agricultural workers on crop and livestock farms, among other issues.

Minister of Finance Jānis Reira will meet with Juris Lazdiņš, Chairman of the Association "Farmers' Council", Ilze Aizsilniece, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Agricultural Cooperatives Association, Chairman of the Board of LPKS "Piena ceļš", Anita Skudra, Head of SIA "Latvijas Piens", and Edgars Treibergs, Chairman of the Board of the Farmers' Organizations Cooperation Council.