ZSA: The Latvian state still does not need local producers
In recent years, more and more attention has been paid to popularizing local vegetables among the public. Working groups are regularly organized and discussed how to organize street trading, state and municipal procurement, and permissiveness in markets, but the result is close to zero. Why are budget funds still given to farmers and intermediaries in other countries with a light hand in Latvia, and domestic producers are relegated to a secondary role? Why do Latvian vegetable growers have to fight for survival with civil servants supported by taxpayers?
In recent weeks, the association “Zemnieku saeima” has been receiving calls full of indignation from vegetable growers about the procurement competition: “Purchase of food products for the needs of the NBS”, identification No. VAMOIC 2018/038. Local vegetable growers would be happy to participate in the competition and would be able to fulfill all the necessary requirements if the position did not include crops that are not grown in Latvia. If the supplier is unable to offer the full volume of the position, and in this case local farmers are unable to fulfill it, because mushrooms and ginger are not grown in Latvia, he is not eligible to participate in the competition! If civil servants – customers had a desire to support local producers, then one or two calls to industry experts would prevent such gross mistakes as are in this case.
Deputy Chairman of the Association “Farmers' Council” and owner of SIA “Mežacīruļi” Juris Cīrulis: “The story is not just about mushrooms and ginger, but a trend in the entire economy - lobbying by people close to them, who are mostly not producers, but buyers, repurchasers and speculators. If the author of the regulation is a competent employee, then such negligence can be described as malicious action and he should go look for a new job! In this case, the source of financing for the procurement procedure 100% is the state budget and it is sad to see how our taxpayers' money is flowing to companies that import vegetables from other countries, both legally and illegally. Countless working groups have not yielded any results - the train continues to run on the old tracks and procurements are focused not so that in this case the army receives the freshest possible local vegetables, controlled by the Food and Veterinary Service, but we are once again lightly giving away Latvian budget funds to growers and intermediaries from other countries!”
Applicants can submit their bids until August 10, 2018. However, there is little hope that any of the local producers will be able to meet the requirements set out in the regulations and the fight with the buyers will continue!
PRes_Peasants' Assembly_The Latvian state still does not need local producers