The Plant Protection Service has launched an investigation into irresponsible farming in Žemaitkiemys

After photos appeared in the public domain of a tractor driving through a field in Žemaitkiemis watering not only the land but also a nearby body of water with an as yet unknown substance, the Plant Production Service has launched an investigation into the situation, says Minister of Agriculture Andrius Palionis.

„Our farming community was also shocked by the photos and on the very first day when this information appeared in the public space, (...) the State Service for Plant Production went to the site and took samples from both the fields and the water – we are waiting for the results. The farm was also inspected and all its documentation concerning the handling of plant protection products was checked," Palionis told the Seimas on Thursday.

„Now the main wait is to find out exactly what plant protection or fertiliser products the farmer has sprayed. The answer will be given in accordance with the established legislation," said the head of the Ministry of Agriculture (MAA).

According to a member of the government, such examples do not contribute to the confidence of the government and the public in farmers, who would like to be able to practice agriculture more freely and with less involvement of the control authorities.

„As a Minister myself, I oversee and hold the Plant Protection Service to account – I can guarantee that. I am deeply disappointed that such actions are being carried out and that such irresponsible farming still occurs in Lithuania. In discussions with farmers who ask for more trust from the controlling authorities so that they can act more freely and there is less control – such events really do chip away at that trust, – assured A. Palionis.

Environment Minister Kastytis Žuromskas said at the time that the institution under his authority was also aware of the situation and was actively monitoring it.

„The Ministry of Environment is aware of the situation, has seen it and is following it. The Minister of Agriculture mentioned that an investigation is under way in this particular case. In terms of the state of conservation and reservoirs in general, we know that agriculture is one of these polluters, but we are actively working with the Ministry of Agriculture – both on all the fertiliser plans, on the tracking and on the measures that we are taking to allow and to give them more responsibility. It's true that such cases do not add a certain amount of satisfaction," said Mr Žuromskas.

„We will see what will be investigated and what will be found, but we hope that such things will not happen again“, – added the Minister.

Earlier this week, journalist Vidmantas Balkūnas shared on his „Facebook“ account photos from the town of Žemaitkiemis, which show a tractor spraying a substance of unknown origin on the ground and into the water in the fields next to the bank of the Nevėžis river.