All farms should be compensated for beast damage, regardless of the number of crops damaged

The Government believes that all farmers should be compensated for damage caused by wild animals to their crops, regardless of how much of their land is damaged.

The Cabinet of Ministers agreed this week that the clause that came into force on 1 January, whereby compensation for damage to crops or horticultural plants caused by game is only granted if at least 5 per cent of the area of the crops or horticultural plants is damaged, should be abolished.

„It is difficult to justify why the 5 per cent limit is considered reasonable and proportionate, and why such a proportion of the damage does not undermine the essence of the typical operator's property right and violate legitimate expectations,

A group of ruling parliamentarians is calling for a return to the previous regime and compensation for all.

The ministry had previously proposed to oppose the idea of abolishing the 5% rule, but changed its position after considering comments from the Ministries of Agriculture and Justice and other institutions.

According to the amendments, which entered into force on 1 January, damage caused by game to crops or garden trees would only be compensated for in accordance with the methodology for calculating damage caused by game, if it is established that the share of damage exceeds 5% of the total area of land occupied by crops or plants.

The amendments to the Hunting Law proposing to do away with this will continue to be discussed by the Seimas.