The farmers were gathering in Vilnius Vinco Kudirkos Square before 11 a.m., the official start of the event.
The Lithuanian Agriculture Council (ŽŪT), organiser of the protest campaign, estimates the number of participants may be several thousands. According to the institution, around 1.3 thousand tractors arrived in Vilnius on Tuesday.
A number of MPs joined the farmers in the rally – ex-agriculture ministers Vigilijus Jukna and Giedrius Surplys, Zigmantas Balčytis, Jonas Pinskus, Algirdas Butkevičius, Valentinas Bukauskas and Edmundas Pupinis.
Farmers demand the Government to amend the procedure for restoring permanent grassland so that farmers do not have to restore it this year, call for stopping the transit of Russian grain, bringing back the excise duties on green diesel and liquefied petroleum gas that were in force until 2024, solving the so-called milk crisis by regulating the marketing chain and halting the expansion of protected areas.
Protesting farmers told ELTA that they are not only angry with the new obligation to restore permanent grassland, but also with the declaration of last year’s crops and the huge red tape farmers have to deal with to receive direct payments.
“Enough with the anti-agriculture policies, enough dirt on agriculture. We are not backing down from our demands. We are waiting for the Government’s solutions,” Ignas Hofmanas, head of the Agriculture Council, told protesters at the event.
The organisers have invited Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, Environment Minister Simonas Gentvilas, Agriculture Minister Kęstutis Navickas and his deputy Egidijus Giedraitis to meet the protesters. A farmers’ delegation will also be meeting with Seimas Speaker Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen in the Parliament on Wednesday.
The protest campaign in Vilnius is scheduled to last until Friday. Everyone willing is welcome to speak on a stage set up in front of the Government today and tomorrow, according to the organisers.