Agriculture, Estonia, EU – Baltic States, Financial Services, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Strike

The farmer arrived at the demonstration with around a hundred tractors that came from all over Estonia. "Farmers come during the busiest harvest time to Toompea because of deep concern and dissatisfaction over the state's inaction in mitigating the effects of the crisis that has hit the agricultural sector," said the Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce.

The farmers carried slogans like "Looking for a job in the city!", "Pigs gone, will cows follow? ", "Estonian cows to Latvia to make sausage".

Among others, Minister for Rural Affairs Urmas Kruuse held a speech. While the demonstrators handed over to the parliament a petition with a loaf of bread, Kruuse was greeted with a whistling choir, Postimees Online reports.

Kruuse said that the state is on the farmers' side in the difficult situation and has launched measures to stabilize the situation. Tomorrow, at the EU agriculture ministers meeting, Estonia's share of the European Commission's 500 million euro aid package for farmers will become clear.

"In difficult times, no one is left alone and each other are helped. The key factor, however, is adapting to the new market situation, because of the overproduction of milk in Europe and the market no longer pays the farmer the price, which in previous years has been counted on. Pork sector is also in a complicated situation," the Minister added.

Kruuse added that the taxpayers will definitely not be able to compensate for all the risks that have materialized. "Therefore, in cooperation with the agricultural sector, we need to find lasting solutions than one-off support measures. We must find ways to adapt to the new market situation, "said Kruuse.

The farmers' demonstration was organised by three major organisations of Estonian farmers: Agricultural Producers Central Union, Farmers Central Union and the Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce.

At its yesterday’s sitting, the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) supported the package of measures targeted to support the agriculture sector, Riigikogu press service also reported.

The total budget of the package is 500 million euro. The Member States of the EU will present their views on dividing the aid package at the meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council tomorrow, on 15 September.

“The situation in the dairy and pork sector of Estonia has become worryingly complicated during the last two years. Hopefully the Estonian farmers and milk producers will soon get extraordinary aid that should compensate the difference between the market price and the production price to the producers,” Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Kalle Palling said.

The European Commission is planning to separate extraordinary direct payments to dairy and meat sector and private storage plans in the aid package. In order to tackle supply chain challenges, the Commission is planning to lay greater emphasis on financial instruments and loans. The Commission also attaches importance to the social aspect, for example, by taking into account the needs caused by immigration, contributing to food aid and supporting school schemes.