I.Hofman: spring frosts destroy up to 80% of fruit and berry crops
The prolonged frosts this spring have destroyed an estimated 70-80% of the fruit and berry crop, according to the Agriculture Minister.
„The flowering process is not over, and when it is over we will be able to make an objective assessment. Yesterday we had a meeting with representatives of the horticulture and berry sector to talk about the current situation. The losses are really huge, with a preliminary estimate of 70–80 percent of the losses already today," Mr Hofman told Žinių radios on Wednesday.
„We are making efforts to have the issue of frost included in the Council of Ministers (EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council – BNS), the next one of which I will be attending next Monday. We will also talk about it with representatives of the European Commission“, – said the Minister.
The frost situation is exceptional, he said, because the frost has lasted for almost three weeks and plant protection is limited and expensive.
„There are no frost protection measures available and if there are, they are very expensive. And the ones that can save the situation to some extent and that gardeners do have (...) are only effective for a very short period of time," explained Mr Hofman.
He said that whether this would lead to a state of emergency would depend on how many municipalities would declare one.
„Perhaps it will be enough for the municipalities concerned, which are affected by the frost, to declare it and we can then activate certain legal mechanisms“, – said the Minister of Agriculture.
Berry growers told BNS earlier that the early flowering of berry bushes had predicted a bumper harvest, but that this would be virtually non-existent due to the subsequent frost.
The frost damage to farms will be discussed on Wednesday by the Seimas Committee on Rural Affairs.
