Dr A.Svitojus: farmers must be involved in decision-making

On 14 May, „Žinių radijas“, celebrating its 25th anniversary, organised an exclusive conference „Lithuania 2050: it is good and safe to live here“. The event provided a significant platform for public debate on the vision of the country's future, involving leaders from a wide range of fields, from politics, security and business to culture, science and the agricultural sector.

Among the participants of the conference – Dr. Arūnas Svitojus, President of the Lithuanian Chamber of Agriculture (LCA), and Dr. Sigitas Dimaitis, Director of the LCA, presented the role of the agricultural sector in the formulation of a long-term national strategy until 2050.

Dr. Arūnas Svitojus stressed that farmers' self-government – is not only the internal organisation of the sector, but also the foundation of state democracy, which cannot be ignored in the development of long-term strategic goals. He said it is essential to ensure that farmers are involved in decision-making and that their experience and knowledge are used to address the challenges of climate change, food security and regional policy.

Sigitas Dimaitis, meanwhile, stressed that Lithuania's future depends on vibrant regions and strong rural communities, which can only be achieved through consistent investment in education, innovation and youth involvement in agriculture. Sustainable development, he said, must become a core principle not only in the sector but also in national decisions.

The conference focused on what we can and must do today to ensure that Lithuania in 2050 is a safe, strong and modern country where everyone can live well - urban and rural dwellers, business, culture and young people.

According to Laima Abromaitytė-Sereikienė, Director General and Editor-in-Chief of "Žinių radijo", the idea of the conference was conceived as a response to the growing divisions in society and geopolitical challenges: "We see our society becoming increasingly polarised, while at the same time there is a growing need to come together for a common purpose. This is a time when we don't need to be united on all issues, but we need to come together and work together in a focused way to achieve the country's strategic goals," she stressed.

The Head of Government Gintautas Paluckas, cyber security expert Marius Pareščius, Jonas Ohmanas, founder of the organization „Blue / Yellow“, Vytautas Žukas, former commander of the Armed Forces, Kristijonas Vizbaras, innovator, Nomeda Marčėnaitė, artist, Ričardas Doveika, priest, and other well-known leaders of the country, all shared their insights at the conference.

The three main areas of the debate sought answers to the questions: How can we each contribute to personal and national security? What actions could help Lithuania become an economic "Baltic Tiger"? How can we create an environment that fosters human dignity and excellence?

The event was broadcast on the website of "Žinių radijo“", providing an opportunity for the general public to actively participate in the debate on what kind of Lithuania we want in 25 years' time.