Agriculture ministry to ease controls on drought-affected farmers

The Ministry of Agriculture says it will ease controls on farmers who suffer losses due to the dry weather and will not impose sanctions for non-compliance with commitments tied to the European Union’s support.

The National Crisis Management Centre is also set to decide on introducing a national emergency due to the drought.

“Today, I will sign an order for with the National Paying Agency (NMA) to allow farmers in municipalities where rainfall has reached a critical level to apply for simplified exemptions for crops that have failed due to or have died as a result of late sowing or prolonged drought,” Agriculture Minister Kęstutis Navickas told reporters on Thursday.