TALLINN, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Estonian government will confirm by decree that the country experienced significantly worse-than-usual weather conditions between April and July this year, severely impacting agriculture. On this basis, Estonia plans to apply to the European Commission for emergency aid for farmers.
Lower-than-average temperatures during the growing season, night frosts, excessive rainfall, and hailstorms have sharply reduced crop yields and quality, causing substantial economic losses for agricultural producers, said the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture on Thursday.
Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture Hendrik Johannes Terras said at a government press conference that the formal recognition of adverse weather provides the legal basis to seek European Union (EU) emergency support from the agricultural reserve. "That's the next step, and we are already working on it," he said.
According to Terras, the decision also strengthens farmers' negotiating position. "If a farmer is unable to meet contractual obligations - for example, delivering an agreed quantity of grain - the government's official stance provides a strong foundation in negotiations. It sends a clear signal to banks, insurers, and trading partners that this is an exceptional situation," he said.
The decree also removes the need for farmers to individually prove weather-related damage to the Agricultural Registers and Information Board (PRIA), as the situation will be treated as a general force majeure event. ■
