The Lithuanian government on Wednesday decided to declare a state-level nationwide extreme situation due to spring frost that severely affected farmers across the country.
Agriculture Minister Ignas Hofmanas was appointed the state operations manager for the emergency response.
Hofmanas said the National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) supported the need to introduce the special legal regime.
“Declaring a state-level extreme situation would create better conditions for negotiations with the European Commission about the possibility of compensating for the losses [...] and would also allow agricultural entities to benefit from exemptions from sanctions under applicable laws,” the minister said during the cabinet meeting.
“This is particularly important for fulfilling obligations to creditors and banks, as it would provide more flexibility. [...] It would also open the way to access the national crisis fund,” he added.
Provisional estimates by the Agriculture Ministry and local municipalities suggest that 70 to 80 percent of fruit and berry crops have been destroyed in some regions. Losses may be as high as 100 percent in the worst-hit areas.
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