Lithuania to provide nearly 20 million euros in farmer support

The Lithuanian government plans to provide nearly 20 million euros in support to farmers to compensate for rising production costs caused by increased fuel and fertilizer prices. Agriculture Minister Kęstutis Mažeika stated that the Ministry of Agriculture aims to implement a ‘zero bureaucracy’ model, where funds are distributed based on existing ministerial data without requiring farmers to submit new applications or forms.

The support is expected to be distributed as a one-time payment, with a focus on small and medium-sized farms. The average payout is estimated to be approximately 3,500 euros, though the final amount will depend on the specific model agreed upon with social partners. The mechanism will consider factors such as livestock numbers and land area.

Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius noted that the goal is to protect farmer competitiveness and stabilize food prices for consumers. While the European Commission has provided a 540 million euro emergency package for farmers, Lithuania is also allocating approximately 9.788 million euros from its agricultural reserve. The distribution of funds is anticipated to take place between October and November.