Lithuanian rural death: half of the farms have an annual income of up to 4 thousand. EUR, 5% takes 50 percent. support for

Jurgita Stakėnienė The head of the European Union Affairs Coordination Group of the Ministry of Agriculture says that more than half of Lithuanian farms produce 4 thousand tons of products a year. euros These are very small amounts. Due to this farm structure, 95%. farms meet 50 percent. support, the remaining 5 percent. farms receive the other half of the support.

“This is due to the structure of our farms and we see that the farms are growing, although we are paying the so-called ‘first hectare’ payments for the first 30 hectares, for example, and allocating 15%. Direct payments envelope. Yes We compare, let’s say, Romania, they only spend 5.3% on it, and the average farm only has 4 ha “, explains J. Stakėnienė and says that farms of up to 30 ha receive an average of 203 euros, and farms of more than a thousand ha 143 euros per hectare In addition, much other support is provided for small farms.

Albertas Gapšys, an expert from the Lithuanian Institute of Agrarian Economy, is open: most of the little ones will have to disappear. They simply cannot compete with the big ones, because the productivity of small businesses is much lower than that of commercial farms, and EU support alone will not be enough to keep them afloat. Furthermore, the majority of small farm owners are of respectable age and are not replaced by young people.

Also, they are paid much less for their products than large ones.

“It is difficult to compete with the big ones because they are superior. The little ones have nothing to invest in and do not want to cooperate,” admits A. Gapšys, and mentions mentality as the main reason that makes survival difficult.

Cheap raw material suppliers

Lives Juodsnukis, president of the Lithuanian Association for Family Farming, says that incorrect agricultural policy is a problem. Although having more than 500 hectares of land is prohibited, there are still individuals and companies that own several and tens of thousands of hectares. If the Seimas passes laws and the executive does not enforce them, it is a problem because we close our eyes and remain silent.

“Lithuanian farmers were and are only providers of cheap raw materials. In the Netherlands, the average farm is 50 cows and the family lives on it. They explained that if they sold only the raw material, they would get 30 percent. income, another 30 percent. The income is received when you process the raw material and the remaining 30 percent. by selling through their cooperative system. Only 10% remains for administration. Our farmers receive perhaps only 20 percent. income, because buyers have reduced prices, “explains V. Juodsnukis and says that only 6% of us cooperate. farms, in Europe around 80%

According to J. Stakėnienė, 65 percent. breeding time of 1 to 5 cows.

“Such farms will not survive. Someone has to tell them that. Cooperation is provided on preferential terms. Also, there were many support measures, such as short chains, where support can even pay vendors’ wages. All the time , only 23 applicants came, “says J. Stakėnienė.

However, A. Gapšys notes another nuance. Although the size of the average economy of Lithuania and the EU is similar, about 20 ha, productivity sometimes differs. EU average prices are much higher. Milk and meat buy from us 20-30%. cheaper than in Europe, grain 10 percent. cheaper

Interfering mindset

Saulius Daniulis, president of the Lithuanian Association of Organic Farms, is less categorical and reluctant to blame only the government. He names where the problem is: it is our own mindset. People are afraid to cooperate because they still remember collective farms. On the other hand, if we want to be like Westerners, we must achieve the same results as them.

“We are on the right track and we are changing little by little. As for the Netherlands, there is a milk production of 11 t, we have 6 and the little ones need to say ‘you are doomed, nobody will pay you more.'” They have to sell the cows or grow them on a medium-sized farm because otherwise they will not produce quality raw materials and will not get higher prices. The other part is that cooperatives have to raise funds and acquire a part of the processing companies to get a vote on the board. Otherwise, we will continue to be the producers of the cheapest raw materials, “explains S. Daniulis.

According to him, 5-8 percent. 95% of farmers produce. Commercial production. Others who receive up to 4,000 euros a year are people of retirement age, or those who do simply receive additional income and receive no benefits. People are dying and no one comes to their place.

Everything in a pile

“We are comparing Ramūnas Karbauskis with a farmer. He is the president of the Green Party, which brings the most fertilizers and pesticides to Lithuania. We do not call Dainius Dundulis, the owner of Norfa Mažmenos, a small businessman,” said Saulius Daniulis, president from the Lithuanian Association of Organic Farms, and says that when families in Lithuania and Great Britain manage their land for several hundred years, we will also have traditions. Perhaps in a few more years the structure of the economy will collapse.

According to Daniulis, although we receive one of the lowest subsidies in the EU, we have to compete for the same store shelves as the rest.

“Until now, nothing has been invented better than a family farm, and we are building mansions. The EU is moving in the other direction. They support the people, not just farmers like us. This policy has brought it to a standstill. Five thousand villages have disappeared, “V. Juodsnukis is angry and says that the problem is the incorrect distribution of money. 80 percent. Support goes to 20%. Entities.

According to the head of the association, this also caused a large emigration. Furthermore, the reform of our land was inappropriate for our country. In Lithuania, one of the largest permitted land areas has been selected: 500 ha.

“Poland had a great conference three years ago to discover why people are emigrating from Eastern European countries.” The conclusion was that the EU gave enough funds, but the local government did not use the money properly, “says V. Juodsnukis.

A. Gapšys predicts that there will be children who will receive income not only from the sale of raw materials, but also from additional activities. For example, it is dedicated to recycling and sells its own products. As for the future of the field, although the small ones are disappearing, they are being replaced by other large efficient ones. For example, although the number of cows is decreasing significantly, the quantity of milk is not decreasing much, the large ones are growing and milking much more.