On Tuesday, June 17th, Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze took part in an informal meeting of EU Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers in Warsaw, Poland. The main discussion topic was how to attract young people to rural areas and ensure generational renewal in farming – a key step for the future development, modernization, and innovation of EU agriculture.
Minister Armands Krauze: “Involving the new generation in farming is essential for the survival of the sector and the development of its competitiveness. Young farmers are well-educated, open to new technologies and business models, and they develop products with higher added value. They promote short supply chains and introduce innovations, making the sector more efficient and attractive. I believe the Common Agricultural Policy should provide special support for young farmers to help them overcome initial financial difficulties. At the same time, improving the quality of life in rural areas must be addressed at the national level.”
Generational change requires support from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), giving young farmers access to education, consultations, and funding, such as loans. Income support during the first years of running a farm is also important to ease financial pressure. There should be targeted support measures, such as financial aid for people starting farming as their only source of income, and safety nets if their income drops. And very importantly – direct payments must finally become equal across the EU, so that by 2028, farmers in the single EU market have equal competition conditions.
The minister also stressed that financial support alone is not enough to attract young people to rural areas. The quality of life in the countryside must also improve, and long-term stability must be ensured. It is important to develop essential daily services and infrastructure in rural areas, ensure access to investment and loans. Work must also be done to raise the status of the farming profession, through information campaigns and events that show modern agriculture. Today’s farming includes precision technologies, computer-based management systems, automation of work, robotics in production, and more.
According to Eurostat, in 2020, around 57.5% of EU farmers were over 55 years old.
In Latvia, according to the Central Statistical Bureau, the average age of farm managers in 2020 was 57.3 years (in 2010 it was 55.7 years).