Lithuanian farmers: we do not receive state aid in practice

Jonas Sviderskis, Director General of the Lithuanian Association of Agricultural Companies (LZUBA), said that this year was fertile, but also added that many are concerned about the conditions next winter.

“(ELTA closed well) cereals, rapeseed, sugar beets, apples and potatoes. This year has been very good for farmers, so we are happy. And the weather was good, everyone was able to harvest. (…)

Farmers who have planted winter crops are concerned. If they take them out, they try to stop their growth, because the worst thing is when it snows on thawed soil and everything is impregnated with humidity (…).

The most favorable winter would be if first it was a little cold and then it snowed, and the winter crops fell asleep in that white bed. But this is not usually the case, “he told Eltai.

However, speaking of the economic segments that are currently suffering the most, J. Sviderskis named the milk suppliers.

“The eternal problem is the purchase prices of raw milk. Farmers are far from satisfied with these prices (…). If once, 20-25 years ago (cows in Lithuania – ELTA) we had around 950 thousand, today we have only 228 thousand. Although today we supply milk to Lithuania, we will continue supplying it, but it is very short-sighted to supply only ourselves ”, he assured.

Furthermore, the Director General of LZUBA emphasized that agricultural development in Lithuania does not receive any support.

“Economic development is not supported in our country. For two and a half years we have received a maximum of 50 thousand for the modernization of the farm. Euros. This is a very small amount, while neighboring Latvians were able to receive a maximum of a million euros. So they also see a great advance in (agriculture – ELTA), “he said.

Speaking about the challenges caused by the coronavirus to Lithuanian farms, J. Sviderskis stated that not only did the markets not contract due to the pandemic, but they also expanded. However, according to him, the biggest problem remains potential infections within COVID-19 farms.

“The markets (due to the pandemic – ELTA) have not diminished at all, the same says the State Veterinary Food Service (SFVS) – the markets have expanded. The purchase of the product itself and the raw material did not decrease. (…) But the entire brigade of modern economics works together. If one person in that chain becomes ill, the entire chain must go out into self-isolation. And there are no changes in people. “It is our biggest problem,” he said.

However, Mr. Sviderski said that many farms, which had nevertheless suffered financially from the COVID-19 pandemic, had not received state support, adding that they intended to take the matter to the EU Court of Justice ( ECJ).

“It just came to our knowledge then. If it succeeded, it got small farms. Restrictions were imposed on large farms. (…) Our farms are large, and if the companies are linked, practically one company received and the other companies ( owned by the same farmer – ELTA) did not receive anything.This is absolutely incorrect, and this was confirmed by the Brussels Competition Council.

But the Lithuanian Competition Council stubbornly did not lift a finger, in general there was some correspondence between the employees of the Competition Council, and not the solution of the problem at the level of managers. “… We will probably still try to apply to the Court of Justice to resolve this inequality in the courts,” Eltai said.
Vidas Juodsnukis, director of the Lithuanian Family Farmers Union, also emphasizes that this year has been fertile but adds that it is not worth waiting for a favorable winter.

“It just came to our notice then. Although we had some droughts, the grain and berry harvests were very good, and the orchards and vegetables weren’t bad either. So this year has been good overall.
The ideal winter – -5 or -10 degrees, about 30 cm of snow cover, and that does not change for 3-4 months. But sadly, this has not been the case for several years. There are wet moves that are very dangerous in the absence of snow (…). Both hot and cold winters can be challenging, they are constant, ”he told Eltai.

V. Juodsnukis also stated that in the Lithuanian dairy industry, farmers, especially small ones, are often exploited by large companies.

“Lithuania has a market in which prices are imposed by several very large processors. Meanwhile, farmers have practically little influence and no share in that market as equal partners with collectors and processors. This is an essential thing that has not changed. in 25 years. Especially the small ones (farmers – ELTA) become suppliers of cheap raw materials and the big companies want and pay them everything they want. It is a very ungrateful and even criminal activity, “he said.

However, the head of the Family Farmers Union, unlike the LZUBA spokesman, said that both domestic and foreign markets for agricultural products have contracted and that almost all agricultural sectors will suffer losses from coronavirus.

“The market is contracting. It is a bit more difficult to export products for export and those prices are relatively unstable. The domestic market has also changed: there is such a wave of people buying, apparently they are accumulating reserves and then the markets are quiet for a long time. time. Then all the agricultural sectors will suffer the coronavirus, “he said.

V. Juodsnukis also emphasized that the state support for farms affected by the COVID-19 pandemic did not reach small farmers and stated that the granting of the support was not transparent.

“Those processes are very non-transparent and we don’t even know who gets what, how much they get and why they get it. Some seem to get a lot, some don’t. There is a lack of transparency and information, ”he told Eltai.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), more than 65 million euros have already been paid to farmers affected by the coronavirus pandemic. euro of state aid.

In October, advances on direct payments amounted to 330 million. Farmers in disadvantaged areas will have 35 million euros. 17 million euros in advances and 17 million euros in the case of organic farmers. A total of 382 million euros will be disbursed. advances in euros.