Currently, the choice of local producers is so important as ever

Latvian Agriculture Minister Kaspars Gerhards invites Latvian residents to spend Easter holidays in the traditions of the festival, choosing local farmers and producers' products for the festive table, while also respecting the country's exceptional situation restrictions.
Minister of Agriculture Kaspars Gerhards: “The emergency situation in the country, along with the measures imposed on the containment OF the virus-19, brings considerable inconvenience to the population as well as complex challenges and difficulties for local farmers and producers. It is important not only to respect self-isolation and social distancing, but also to provide the necessary support to local farmers and entrepreneurs in their daily activities. When choosing a local product of Latvia, every citizen is part of a significant support for the producers of domestic eggs, milk, meat, grain, vegetables and other industries. Therefore, by approaching festive days, i call on every citizen to choose directly products produced in Latvia – the more in his food basket and also on the festive table for Latvian products, the more common support we are able to provide as agricultural sectors, as well as the state as a whole!”
The Minister stresses that public support for domestic producers is particularly important during the exceptional situation: it is a support to farmers, producers and local entrepreneurs who provide the public with food availability. It is not less important that every product of Latvia, which is chosen by residents instead of imported goods, is also aid to the national economy as a whole: “the more we as a society will be able to support local producers, the more we will keep the money paid by Latvian residents in the state economy. It is a high-quality local product for people, it is the preservation and provision of jobs, as well as taxes in the national budget, which can be used for national measures, including support mechanisms for the various sectors and citizens as a whole, as well as in the future."
During THE COVID-19 crisis, agricultural and food producers are also experiencing additional difficulties due to the measures put in place in the world to limit the spread of the virus. There is already a critical situation in the production of eggs and the processing of milk. In the egg sector, producers in Latvia provide 160% of domestic consumption, therefore changes IN THE EU market (decrease in demand) result in immediate negative effects. The egg producers are informed that the demand for egg processing products has decreased significantly, as they were most requested in the hospitality sector, also reducing the opportunities for egg marketing IN THE EU Member States. That is why, in the days of Easter holidays and in future, buying safe and quality Latvian products – the eggs of local producers, everyone provides significant support to both the producers and the national economy.
Anne Erliha, Executive Director of the Latvian Egg and Birds Producers Association: “This is a very unusual time – a full challenge and opportunity. As it is never seen, the importance of each of our choices, so i call for the purchase of eggs, meat and vegetables produced in Latvia. Order from farmers, buy in supermarkets or small producers' shops, but the main thing is to pick up local people and produce. Moreover, Easter is the time when the consumption of eggs in households is increasing significantly, so that the choice of each resident in favour of eggs and processed products produced in Latvia is important aid to egg producers. It is a helpful hand that is truly vital in this global crisis. '
In the dairy sector, where products are produced at 138% from domestic consumption, during the crisis the sales of products intended for export, especially cheese and milk powder, are due to difficulties. Thus, the production of stocks of non-disposable products by processing undertakings entails additional costs and implies both the freezing of funds and the lack of working assets. Similarly, milk producers (farmers) are informed about the difficulties – the Ministry of Agriculture receives information on the reduction in the purchase price of raw milk which negatively affects farm revenue.
The Ministry of Agriculture invites every citizen to choose local products, as well as motivate his or her family members, friends and acquaintances to purchase directly domestic products, using also the theme in social networks – #SuppliViet, while also not forgetting about socially responsible action Messenger-subject #PaliecM.
In early April, Agriculture Minister Kaspars Gerhards has been reported to have led a discussion with representatives of food retail trade chains, as well as representatives of agricultural cooperatives and other farmers' organisations, discussing the expansion of the possibilities of production of products produced in Latvia, including the continuous availability of Latvian vegetables and fruit in shops, both at the time of the emergency situation and in the future. During the meeting, food traders pointed out that they welcomed Latvian agricultural cooperatives as their own independent trade partners with local vegetables. On the other hand, the representatives of farmers' organisations drew attention to the fact that they were prepared to expand the cultivation of their farms in the event of agreement with food shops on increasing the share of the harvested harvest in their shelves. As a result of successful cooperation, vegetable growers will continuously supply vegetables and fruit grown in Latvian farmers' gardens and rural areas. On the other hand, it is important for trade companies that Latvian vegetables and fruits be high and purchasers would be willing to buy them.
The information was prepared by: Santa louma,
Advisor to the Minister for Agriculture
Phone: 20222000
Email: Santa.Valuma@zm.gov.lv