IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMES IN

LITHUANIA: HOW TO ENGAGE FARMER?

Gediminas AlmantasMinistry of Agriculture of Lithuania

Conference ,,Nature coservation and the EU policy for sustainable land management in the new

EU Member States’’

June 16-20, Bonn/Germany

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL

PROGRAMMES IN LITHUANIA

AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES IN 2004-2006:

•Management of shore belts of water bodies •Landscape stewardship

–management of natural and semi-natural meadows–managements of wetlands

•Organic farming •Endangered breeds

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMES IN LITHUANIA

YEAR 2004 2005 2006

Management of shore belts of water bodies

nr. of contracts

area, ha

11

3

3

5,5

Landscape stewardship

nr. of contracts

area, ha113

544

404

2568

Organic farming

nr. of contracts

area, ha

1018

29050

1031

56871

2340

102000

Endangered breeds

nr. of contracts

nr. of animals

265

3323

199

1068

57

216

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMES IN LITHUANIA

• Reasons of weak participation of farmers:– lack of information and knowledge– little choice of schemes– problems with land lease– bureaucratic burden– insufficient support level– strict requirements

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMES IN LITHUANIA

• AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES FOR 2007-2013:

• Management of shore belts of water bodies• Organic farming• Endangered breeds • Landscape stewardship

– management of natural and semi-natural meadows– managements of wetlands– stubbly fields in winter season– strips of melliferous plants in the arable land– management of the holding landscape elements

Scheme for improwing the status of water bodies at risk

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMES IN LITHUANIA

• Next steps• To intensify training the consultants. To prepare the

training programmes.• To reduce number of documents.• To simplify procedures of submission of applications.• To increase number of schemes.• To involve NGOs • To work with farmers individually.

• Thanks for your attention