The flames of the “Fires of Hope” lit up the Alytus district

During the peaceful protest action of farmers of hope and solidarity, “Fires of Hope”, which swept the whole of Lithuania, the farmers of the Alytus district also supported it. According to Mariaus Gudaitis, the chairman of the “Dzūkijos pārmankas” branch (Alytus) of the Lithuanian Farmers’ Union (LŪS), a dozen bonfires of hope were lit in the area.

The Lithuanian Agricultural Council (LŽŪT), which unites 10 agricultural organizations representing 80% of the population, has invited farmers to a protest action against the flawed, inconsistent and one-sided agricultural policy, which has caused negative consequences and the resulting problems have become a burden for farmers. farmers of the country.

“The biggest pain is the restoration of meadows. I have my own land, I pay taxes to the state, but I can’t grow what I want on it. Animal husbandry is ruined, the milk market is messed up, inadequate excise duties on liquefied petroleum gas, which farmers use not only for cooking, but also for drying grain, and the illogical procedure for using marked fuel. The problem of Ukrainian grain, we should have allowed it only to be transported through Lithuania, but it settled in our country, now Russian grain is traveling, all this shows that there is no owner. After joining the EU, we have achieved a lot, in Europe we seem to be quite strong moderates, so why do you have to destroy us”, said Romas Kisleravičius, the former chairman of the “Dzūkijas farmer’s” branch, who named the motives of the protest action.

Bronius Guževičius, one of the largest farmers in the district, who owns 1,600 hectares of land and raises about 200 beef cattle, said that he joined the campaign to show what laws the government is passing. “If you go to inspect the fields using green fuel, not with a tractor, but with another vehicle, you will be fined 5,000 euros. The requirement to sow perennial meadows is also a misunderstanding. If necessary, we will participate in the next campaign, because the patience of the farmers was lacking”, emphasized B. Guževičius, who lives in the village of Bažava.

“We could endure bullying by the government, blackmail by bureaucrats, but the current officials have crossed all limits!” They attacked our customs, our way of life, our land! That’s why we say ENOUGH!”, the LŽŪT report reads. LŽŪT identified the main six problems that the authorities must solve in order to ensure the successful development of agriculture and protect the rights of farmers.

To solve the problem of perennial meadows created by bureaucrats, because in 2014 artificially increasing the area of ​​perennial meadows from 400 thousand ha up to 700 thousand ha land owners were burdened with an additional financial burden.

To stop the development of protective belts and zones and the unilateral change of land use without the consent of the owner. The extension of coastguard belts and the restrictions on activities in those extended areas must be withdrawn. In other cases, it is necessary to provide and legalize an adequate compensatory payment for legalized restrictions.

Stop the import of Russian grain to Lithuania. There is a possibility that when grain of Russian and Belarusian origin is transported through Lithuania, it enters our grain market.

Solve the milk crisis in Lithuania decisively and forever. It is required to restore the Transitional National Support for milk producers by reviewing and updating its reference amounts. Also, Lithuania must contribute to the 10.6 million allocated by the EC. Eur. 200 percent of financing from the national budget, as allowed by EU regulations.

To return the rules for the use of labeled fuel that have been in force until now. Since the procedure that came into effect is a misunderstanding from the point of view of environmental protection, as it does not encourage the choice of the most efficient and less polluting means of transporting goods, it is required to leave the previous procedure.

After meeting with Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonyte, Minister Kęstučis Navickas and Deputy Minister of Environment Raminta Radavičienes, Chairman of LŽŪT Ignas Hofmanas said that the conversation was working and constructive, the dialogue took place, the Prime Minister heard the farmers and many problems will be taken into account. LŽŪT and LŪS resolutely distanced themselves from the Chamber of Agriculture, which held a press conference when the farmers were preparing to start a protest action and declared that they were another organizer of the farmers’ protest actions.

Latvia has joined the Lithuanian farmers’ action, they are supported by foresters, agricultural machinery trading company “Lytagra”, the Lithuanian Agricultural Machinery Dealers Association and everyone who is indifferent to the agricultural sector.