Government declares emergency due to spring frost

The government decided on Wednesday to declare a state-level emergency due to the spring frosts that have hit the country's farmers hard. 

„Following the severe frosts, which have been unusually severe this season, a national emergency is being declared to provide financial support to farms affected by the frosts. We hope that this will help them to survive these climatic shocks and to continue their activities next season," Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

At the proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture (MAA), Minister of Agriculture Ignas Hofmanas is appointed as the head of the State of Emergency Operations. 

He said that the National Crisis Management Centre had endorsed the need to declare an emergency at state level. 

„Declaring a state-level emergency would facilitate negotiations with the European Commission on the possibility of compensation for losses (...) and would allow the use of the exemptions from sanctions for agricultural operators provided for in the legislation“, – the Minister said at the meeting.

„This would be particularly important for the fulfilment of credit obligations, obligations to banks, and flexibility in their fulfilment. (...) It would also open up avenues for the use of the national crisis fund," Hofmann added.

The Minister pointed out that the frost lasted an unusually long time, reaching up to minus 9 degrees in places. The frost covered almost the entire territory of Lithuania“.

The damage and losses are currently being assessed. Preliminary estimates from the Ministry and local municipalities suggest that in some regions up to 50-90% of the harvest has been destroyed, depending on the crop, and in some areas up to 100% of the fruit and berry crop.

Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas said on Tuesday that the declaration of an emergency was needed first and foremost to „unlock“ a reserve that could be used to help affected farmers. 

The ministry points out that this spring is characterised by unusual and severe weather anomalies. "Some farmers will not be able to replant their crops this season, resulting in a complete loss of income by the end of the year," the ministry said.

The municipalities of Lazdijai district and Vilkaviskis district have already declared a municipal-level emergency situation.