The Rural Affairs and Fisheries Committee of the Central Party Council considers that giving confidence to farmers is a matter of security and the government must urgently decide on compensation for drought damage to the maximum extent allowed and confirm that unfavorable weather conditions prevail in Estonia.
Chairman of the Center Party Jüri Ratas said that the survival of the agricultural sector is important not only from the point of view of the economy, but also from the point of view of security. “The cold spring and subsequent drought is another blow, preceded by energy price increases that affected agriculture and manufacturing. In such circumstances, continuing with animal breeding, for example, is under a big question mark, but a strong agricultural sector and food industry is clearly a security issue,” emphasized Ratas, according to whom the government must pay more attention to the sector.
Head of the Central Party’s Rural Affairs and Fisheries Committee Ester Tuiksoo explained that the European Union is in the process of approving an aid package for the countries, of which 1.7 million euros will also go to the Estonian farmer, but it is clearly not enough, so the country also needs to find additional means to support the farmers. “Each member state can add 200% to the support, which in the case of Estonia would be 3.4 million euros in addition to 1.7 million. It is unthinkable that the government would not support the sector to the maximum extent under these circumstances. It is not a lot of money, but it is undoubtedly necessary,” said Tuiksoo.
He added that the government also urgently needs to confirm that agriculture is affected by unfavorable weather conditions. “This would give the necessary breathing space, i.e. it would enable the obligations and contracts to be fulfilled more flexibly. On the one hand, the state understands the situation in words, on the other hand, a farmer can get into trouble in front of PRIA and receive sanctions precisely because the weather conditions have not made it possible to fulfill obligations,” explained Tuiksoo.
According to him, both the payment of the maximum amount of support and the confirmation of unfavorable weather conditions are in any case fast. “Farmers must be given a sense of security before the doors are finally closed and production stops,” said the head of the council’s committee. Already today, according to Tuiksoo, it is clear that grain growing, animal fodder production and growing horticultural products have suffered the most, but the allocation of support must be negotiated with all partners and a fair solution found.