On 10 June, President of Latvia Egils Levits met with Maira Dzelzkalēja-Burmistre, Deputy Chair of the Board, Union ‘Farmers’ Parliament’, Mārtiņš Trons, Member of the Board, Union ‘Farmers’ Parliament’, Edgars Treibergs, President, Latvian Agricultural Organization Cooperation Council (LAOCC), Guntis Gūtmanis, Member of the Board, LAOCC, Indulis Jansons, Chair of the Board, Latvian Agricultural Cooperatives Association (LACA), Māra Rudzāte, Member of the Board, LACA, in the Riga Castle to discuss the European Union’s multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027, priorities of the common agricultural policy (CAP) and its funding.
Farmers’ Parliament presented to the President its position on current Latvian and European priorities of agricultural sector. As has been publicly stated numerous times, one of the biggest challenges is lack of workforce and lack of interest in well-paid but physically demanding job, especially during harvest season, on the part of potential local workers. Dairy farms also experience lack of hands all year round.
Meeting also focused on future of direct payments, importance of cooperation between various agricultural sub-sectors, competition with large producers, progress towards future strategy and policy for agricultural sector.
While discussing greening of agricultural sector, members of the Farmers’ Parliament underlined that they are ready to back Latvia’s progress towards green nation, but it is also clear that support instruments and precise strategies for meeting the national demand for agricultural products are also needed. In addition, farmers need to know what kind of support will be available under the European Green Deal. Ms Dzelzkalēja-Burmistre stressed that equal subsidies for farmers of all EU member states would only be fair. They would also ensure the level playing field across the EU. ‘I believe our representatives in the EU should negotiate more equitable direct payments to Latvian farmers, bringing them to the EU average level as soon as possible,’ said Egils Levits.
Discussion then moved on to biological farming. As noted, many Latvian farmers who do not qualify as organic producers right now are already using various integrated techniques. Ms Rudzāte emphasised that Latvian fruit and berry suppliers are already at the same level as so-called organic producers in other countries because, due to costs and scale involved, massive spraying is beyond their reach. She also mentioned that anyone violating spraying rules must be punished accordingly.
President also asked farmers about cross-breeding capacity for supply of local species and seed required to satisfy the local demand with own resources created by Latvian scientists.
