Lithuanian farmers cannot expect drought compensation from EC, vicemin says

VILNIUS – Lithuanian farmers who have incurred drought-related losses cannot expect compensation from the European Union as it's an insured event, Vice Minister of Agriculture Venantas Griciunas says.

He also acknowledged, however, that it's not easy to get insurance for drought losses in Lithuania as only one company provides such a service.

"Drought is an insured event in the European Union, and the last year showed that clearly. Other countries were hit by more severe droughts and got nothing from the EU budget," he told a meeting of the parliamentary opposition with farmers' representatives on Wednesday.

He did not answer the question on whether farmers could expect some sort of compensation from the national budget. The drought level was reached in three municipalities earlier this week.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture will compensate farmers for loses incurred due to drought in 2018, with 8.5 million euros allocated for that purpose. Payments should start in July.