Agriculture is one of the most important sectors of the Lithuanian economy, but in recent years there has been a growing shortage of young people in the sector. Why there are not as many young professionals and young farmers as we would like. We talk to Saulius Narbutas, a lawyer and cybersecurity specialist, who sheds light on the thinking and choices of young people. Interestingly, Saulius himself is actively monitoring what is happening with agriculture, as if he is considering the choice of new iššfarms.

– You are a young man, why do you think young people often choose the city over the countryside?

<– I think there is still a stereotype that rural areas have low wages. Young people do not know that there is innovation in the countryside, and that engineering professions or engineering professions related to agribusiness are well paid. Young people often prefer to work where they earn more money. Another reason is hard work. Depending on the specifics, work in agriculture is physišy hard, requires a lot of effort over the years and certainly a lot of knowledge in various fields. Young people are often afraid that such work will be too difficult and unattractive, because in youth it is also important to have a cultural life, a nightlife, entertainment, which is not available in the countryside. Another reason is the lack of prospects. We all want to work in a field where there are many opportunities for career progression.

– What are the problems facing Lithuanian farms?

– Career opportunities are limited in agriculture. Today, our šalies statistics are not encouraging. Many small, medium-sized farms are struggling to make a living. If you look at the statistics, there is a trend that the number of students in agriculture in Lithuania is decreasing every year. Over the last five years, the number has almost tripled. A review of the results of the Lithuanian Association of Agricultural Schools' general enrolment shows that as of 1 September 2023, there are 10 universities in Lithuania that offer agricultural studies. There are approximately 3 500 students studying at these universities. The Academy of Agriculture of Vytautas Magnus University has the highest number of agricultural students. The number of students studying at the &Scaron University is around 2 000. The second place is occupied by the Institute of Agriculture of the Lithuanian Centre of Agrarian and Forestry Sciences, with about 500 students. Agricultural students studying at other universities account for a small proportion of the total student population. For example, Vilnius University has about 100 agricultural students and Kaunas University of Technology has about 50 students. The situation is compounded by the fact that Lithuanian farmers are facing a variety of problems, such as high production costs, social problems, the growing number of retired farmers, labour shortages, climate change, infertile land, loss of biodiversity, and most importantly, lack of information. I supported the Lithuanian farmers' protest action against government decisions that were unfavourable to farmers, but I think that communication, finding solutions and strengthening entrepreneurial skills would help to solve these problems. Scholarships can encourage young people to take up agriculture, but they cannot guarantee that people will work in agriculture after their studies. Rather, the parents of the students are already farmers, trying to pass on their farms to their sons and daughters. Support for young farmers can help them to start their own business, but it cannot guarantee success.

– Is there a noticeable gap between large and small farms?

– That gap is very strong. The state seems to be taking measures to reduce the gap between small and large farms, but in reality it is not enough, and in many cases small farms do not always benefit from support. There is often a lack of information, and often a lack of financial literacy and administrative skills. There are some very successful companies that are innovating and developing science-business partnerships. Concerns and agribusinesses pay really high salaries to good specialists, but not everyone is aware of this. This is the key to the success of large businesses, as they have more room for manoeuvre. Often agribusinesses run dešimt and more agribusinesses, which makes it easier for them to participate in support measures. That difference between large and small farms will, I believe, continue to grow. But to prevent farms from disappearing, the state needs to put safeguards in the rules and regulations. Finally, to finance and help small farms with their projects. It is no secret that there are various project developers and drafters. This is not a bad thing. The problem is that the farmer has to pay them out of his own pocket.

– How to attract young people to farming?

– Attracting young people to agriculture requires complex measures and there is no single recipe. In addition to scholarships and support, there is a need to change attitudes towards agriculture. Young people need to be shown that agriculture is a modern and promising field. They need to be shown that it is possible to earn a good wage and be independent in agriculture.

Thank you for talking to me.