Agriculture, Legislation, Lithuania, Markets and Companies, Society

The MP has noted that young farmers now face major hindrance related to the implementation of the rural development programmes. The rules of the Aid for Setting up Young Farmers programme were approved on 24 March, but no exemptions were foreseen for young farmers who will be drafted in the military service or decide to serve voluntarily.

Based on the existing rules, they face strict sanctions and might even be forced to return all of the received support.

Farmers who participate in these programmes sign agreements with the National Paying Agency and commit to fulfil certain indicators provided for in a business plan and not to change a project's implementation conditions.

According to the MP, many young farmers have taken loans from banks and must have stable income in order to repay them. Therefore, their farms would incur significant losses and they would face serious problems if repayment of loans was delayed. Therefore the issue requires to be solved urgently.