The Farmers' Assembly will continue what it has started so that agriculture in Latvia remains the backbone of the country!

Today, the 15th congress of the association "Farmers' Council" took place at the Ādaži Cultural and Creative Education Center - a conference that brought together more than 200 farmers from all over Latvia and was opened by Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma and Minister of Agriculture Jānis Dūklavs. At the congress, farmers got acquainted with the opinions of experts from France, Hungary and Austria on the preservation of agricultural land, as well as jointly discussed Latvian agriculture and sustainable land use in the context of the European Union.

The congress of the "Farmers' Parliament" was opened with kind words Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma, which emphasized the organization's inexhaustible ideas and purposeful work for a more productive agricultural environment in Latvia. Those present used the opportunity for a discussion with the Prime Minister and asked the most pressing questions about weight-restricting road signs in the spring season, as well as afforestation of agricultural land. The Prime Minister emphasized that the "Farmers' Seimas" together with the Ministry of Agriculture addresses the issue of road signs every year and this year will not be an exception, while the ban on afforestation of agricultural land is in the process of being worked on.

The opening of the congress-conference was also attended by Minister of Agriculture Jānis Dūklavs and he admitted: “The Latvian Farmers’ Assembly has done a lot in its 15 years of operation to ensure that successful agricultural production continues to exist in the Latvian countryside. I would like to thank the Farmers’ Assembly for its support, proposals and discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture, which have resulted in many important decisions related to the development of Latvian rural areas. I fully agree with the motto of the Farmers’ Assembly Congress – “Agricultural land – Latvia’s strategic resource”. That is exactly what it is – land, forests and waters are Latvia’s strategic resource. The land gives us work, the land feeds us. Therefore, the land must be managed wisely and sustainably. The evaluation of the regulatory changes developed by the Ministry of Agriculture is nearing its conclusion. I hope that they will soon come into force and the agricultural land, which is currently not being cultivated, will be at the disposal of Latvia’s productive farmers.”

In the first part of the "Farmers' Parliament" congress - conference "Agricultural land – Latvia's strategic resource" Dr.oec. prof. presented research on sustainable use and efficient management of agricultural land. Irina Pilvere, who emphasized that for land to be used intensively, it is necessary maintain the increased Real Estate Tax (RET) rate for unmanaged areas, provide for a restriction proposals for the use of areas in rural blocks for other purposes (outside of agriculture) in order to ensure the long-term development of agriculture, preserving land as a production resource, etc. In turn, on the amendments to the law "On the privatization of land in rural areas" introduced by the Director of the Forest Department of the Ministry of Agriculture Arvids Ozols.

Experience about the earth sustainable use The Vice President of the European Farmers' Association "COPA" from Hungary also shared Miklos Kis, French Consul of Agriculture in Poland and the Baltic States Alexandre Martinez and Representative of the Austrian Chamber of Agriculture Guenther Rohrer.

After the presentations, those present had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion on Latvian agriculture and sustainable land use in the context of the European Union.

Juris Lazdins, Chairman of the Association "Farmers' Council": "Fifteen years is a number when we can look back on the work done and, drawing strength from what has been done, set goals for the next 15. During these years, we have accomplished a lot together and I dare say that we have managed to break down the barrier between civil service and practical entrepreneurship in the countryside, as well as constructively begin work on defending the interests of Latvian farmers in the European Union. Thank you to each of you! We will continue what we have started and do everything to ensure that agriculture is always the backbone of Latvia!

The 2014 work plans of the association "Farmers' Council" include:

1) Strengthen the competitiveness of Latvian agriculture in Europe;

2) Promoting the sustainable use of agricultural land;

3) Creating a business environment favorable to agriculture in Latvia;

4) Educating and expanding knowledge of members;

5) Involving members in the organization.

About the association "Farmers' Council"

The Association “Farmers’ Council” (ZSA) is the strongest organization of agricultural producers in Latvia. Currently, the organization’s members are 856 of the most active and purposeful Latvian farmers from all agricultural sectors. The organization’s goal is to defend the interests of its members by actively participating in the processes of creating and improving legislation, to create a sustainable development-oriented agricultural policy in Latvia, and to popularize agriculture as one of the priority sectors of the Latvian state. Currently, ZSA is the third most important lobby organization in Latvia.