Due to high fuel prices, some farmers are unsure whether to work this year, said Juris Lazdiņš, chairman of the Farmers' Union, in an interview on the TV3 program "900 Seconds," as reported by LETA.
He noted that if the weather this spring is favorable for agriculture, other circumstances create difficulties.
In particular, Lazdiņš pointed out that since the beginning of the war in the Middle East, energy resource prices have sharply increased, with fuel and mineral fertilizers accounting for up to 40% of all production costs, which will affect the entire agricultural sector.
The chairman of the Farmers' Union also noted that there are farmers who are contemplating whether to do anything at all this year.
"This spring will be an indicator of the direction in which farms will go, because they are really considering the thought that it might be better not to do anything. If the sector has been making losses for the last three years, then perhaps it is indeed better not to do anything. Alternatives are being sought. Of course, this is not so easy for farms that have credit obligations," said Lazdiņš.
At the same time, he noted that this year, spring in Latvia visually looks very good, considering how the winter was. "At the moment, the situation is good. Of course, not everywhere and not in all regions," added Lazdiņš.
The Farmers' Union is an agricultural organization founded in 1999. Its goal is to support agriculture and horticulture in Latvia, advocating for stable and sustainable development of the sector. The union includes about 800 small and large farms from across the country.
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