The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) invites farmers, entrepreneurs and anyone interested from the Vidzeme region to the forum and dialogue “Our Own Product – Our Own Strength: Strong Agriculture for a Secure Latvia”, which will take place on Friday, 25 September, at the “Draugu nams” Gallery in Konrāds Quarter, Rožu Square, Cēsis, at 11.00 a.m.
In spring, the MoA organised regional conferences “On the Way to a Healthy Farm”, where farmers were introduced to the Agricultural Growth Plan 2026–2036 and discussed its main objectives and implementation at sectoral and farm level. During the summer, the sectors actively worked on developing their respective strategies.
The autumn forum and dialogue events continue the discussion already started, but in a more open and informal format. Their aim is to listen to one another and discuss the farmer’s roadmap and what to expect in the context of the Agricultural Growth Plan, the conclusions of the sectoral strategies developed during the summer, and the steps needed to successfully implement the Agricultural Growth Plan, taking into account the specific characteristics of each region.
PROGRAMME
11.00 – Opening of the event / Mārtiņš Cimermanis, Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre (LLKC). Welcome address by Inese Suija-Markova, Deputy Chair of the Cēsis County Council
11.10 – Sector growth and current developments in the context of the new planning period / Uldis Augulis, Minister of Agriculture
11.30 – Issues important to farmers / Rolands Zeltiņš, Head of the Agriculture Division at Swedbank
11.50 – The farmer’s roadmap – what to expect in the context of the Agricultural Growth Plan and what the sectoral strategies developed tell us / Dace Freimane, Head of the Common Organisation of the Markets Division at the MoA
12.10 – Power supply crises – what to know and how to prepare / Igors Gobalovs, Head of Corporate and Large Customer Relations at AS “Sadales tīkls”
12.30 – Challenges and proposals for the successful implementation of the Agricultural Growth Plan in the context of sectoral strategies and regional specifics / Open discussion with Dace Freimane, Head of the Common Organisation of the Markets Division at the MoA; Rolands Zeltiņš, Head of the Agriculture Division at Swedbank; Jānis Šulcs, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the “Straupe” Dairy Cooperative; and Gundars Skudriņš, Member of the Board of SIA “Field and Forest”. The discussion will be moderated by Mārtiņš Cimermanis, Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre (LLKC).
13.20 – Summary / Mārtiņš Cimermanis, Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre (LLKC)
13.30 – What does what we have heard tell us? / Uldis Augulis, Minister of Agriculture
From 13.35 – Informal networking and further discussion over coffee.
