Latvia's agricultural sector has reported considerable damage caused by the storm that raged in July. The Ministry of Agriculture has received 176 applications from farmers. The affected area spans approximately 10,000 hectares, according to Minister of Agriculture Armands Krauze. Notably, three-quarters of the impacted land was covered by insurance, leaving a relatively smaller portion of 2,700 hectares uninsured. The storm particularly affected gardeners, fruit and vegetable growers, and potato farmers, with prolonged water exposure leading to significant crop damage. However, cereal crops have been less affected, with most being salvageable.

In response to the storm damage, farmers had a little over two weeks to submit their reports, which will be used to inform future support measures. Minister Krauze also highlighted ongoing discussions about establishing a national risk fund. This fund would offer an alternative to traditional insurance, requiring compulsory contributions from uninsured farms to provide a safety net in the event of severe losses.

Source - https://www.freshplaza.com