Presentation by Inga Berzina, Farmers' Parliament Union - Smartfarming practices in Latvia

1. SmartFarmer
Lifelong
Learning
Programme
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
Improving skills for Smartfarming as an innovative
tool for rural development and economic growth
LLP LdV TOI project 2013-1-CY1-LE005-03114
International Conference
Smartfarming Practices in Latvia
Limasol, 27.10.2015.

2. SmartFarmer
Lifelong
Learning
Programme
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
Content
• General information about Latvia
• Agriculture Production and Marketing in
Latvia
• Union “Farmers Parliament”
• SuperFood Berries in Latvia
• Good practice examples

3. SmartFarmer
Lifelong
Learning
Programme
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
Athens, 30.09.2014.
• Area-64 589 km2
•Population -2,013 million (2013)
•AGRICULTURE
Econ. active farms - 85,9 thousand
Average size - 31.9 ha
Average age ~56 years
Some Data on Latvia...

4. SmartFarmer
Lifelong
Learning
Programme
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
Production and Marketing in Latvia
• Recent years increased production (since 2010 increased 22,2 %),
growing export( 2014-19,8% from total export, but declined for 6% in
comparison with 2013) – agriculture as export industry, possibilities for
development;
• The farms strongly benefit from production of products with added
value (food industry role in GDP increased for 18,3% from 2008-
2013) ;
• Developed supportive legislation for promotion of home producers
(since 2009 from from 365 to 1 031;
• Increased role of farmers’ cooperation (LKPS Latraps, KS Musmaju
darzeni etc.) ;
• Importance to use effective production, marketing, promotion
methods and channels;
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT:
• Uncompetitive in comparison to other EU countries- the lowest
financial support for agricultural production per ha in EU and
Geopolitical situation – Russian market (In 2013 the food items covered
37.9% from the total volume of exports to Russia, consisted: 50.3% of milk and
dairy products, 24.5% other food items, 10.5% sausages and similar food , 5.4% of
fresh fish, 4.2% fruit and nuts, 3.1% meat and subproducts and 2% vegetables.)

5. SmartFarmer
Lifelong
Learning
Programme
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
UNION “FARMERS PARLIAMENT”
• Non-governmental organization
• Membership – 867 farms and agricultural businesses
• - a large part of Latvian commercial farmers
• All kinds of rural production; Mostly family farms
• Cultivate 500 000 ha; Produce: 46 % grain and 53%
rapeseed of the total Latvian production
• 33% of members - in animal husbandry
• Members employ 4000 people
• Provision political lobbing, consultancy, training activities,
projects – agriculture/research
• 4 projects for training in Marketing (SmartFarmer, FarmInc,
Marlo, ELMA-TP” (developed online training platforms)

6. SmartFarmer
Lifelong
Learning
Programme
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

7. SmartFarmer
Lifelong
Learning
Programme
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
MANA SAIMNIECĪBA IR MANS BIZNESS
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9/attachmentId/5

8. SmartFarmer
Lifelong
Learning
Programme
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

9. SmartFarmer
Lifelong
Learning
Programme
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
400 FRUITS
AND
BERRIES IN
LATVIA

10. SmartFarmer
Lifelong
Learning
Programme
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
SuperFood Berries in Latvia
• strawberries
• raspberries
• blueberries
• black currants
• red currants
• sea buckthorn
• gooseberries
• cranberries
• cloudberries
• red bilberries
• bilberries

11. SmartFarmer
Lifelong
Learning
Programme
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
Challenges for the production of
SuperFoods:
 Production:
• Higher production, packing costs and realization costs
• Weather conditions of Latvia require a lot of patience,
attention and resources
• Cultivate a natural way, without using any chemical protective
equipment.
• Knowledge of the specific cultivation of plants, how to
increase yields
• Labour shortage
 Marketing:
• Lack of awareness among buyers
• Marketing and promotion activities for persuading of
customers
• Marketing techniques

12. SmartFarmer
Lifelong
Learning
Programme
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

13. SmartFarmer
Lifelong
Learning
Programme
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

14. SmartFarmer
Lifelong
Learning
Programme
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
PASTRY

15. SmartFarmer
Lifelong
Learning
Programme
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
MEDICINE

16. SmartFarmer
Lifelong
Learning
Programme
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
Smoothies

17. SmartFarmer
Lifelong
Learning
Programme
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
EXCURSIONS

18. SmartFarmer
Lifelong
Learning
Programme
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
PICKING UP ACTIVITIES

19. SmartFarmer
Lifelong
Learning
Programme
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
CRANBERRY FESTIVALS

20. SmartFarmer
Lifelong
Learning
Programme
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!