"Durbes grauds": Cooperation in grain farming is more developed in Latvia than in Lithuania and Estonia

Cooperation in grain farming is more developed in Latvia than in Lithuania and Estonia, the chair of the board of the agricultural services cooperative society "Durbes grauds", Sandris Bēča, told the LETA news agency.

"In Latvia, particularly in grain farming, cooperation is very strong compared with the neighboring countries Lithuania and Estonia," Bēča said, adding that grain-farming cooperatives in Estonia are not as strong as those in Latvia, but are stronger than in Lithuania, where cooperation in the sector is less developed. In Lithuania, grain farmers have to work more in accordance with the conditions set by private companies.

Bēča said that cooperation in grain farming in Latvia continues to develop because more and more farmers understand that they benefit from joining forces. "I think that more and more farmers are appreciating the benefits of cooperation. The beneficiaries of the successful existence and operation of cooperatives in Latvia are not only the cooperative members themselves; the other farmers also gain certain benefits," Bēča said. Overall, the number of members of grain-farming cooperatives in Latvia is stable, with an upward trend—more new members join grain-farming cooperatives than leave them, he said.

The number of members of "Durbes grauds" also tends to grow every year, Bēča reported. "Our membership is constantly growing. The growth is not sudden, but stable—approximately five to ten new members each year," he said, adding that last year the cooperative's membership increased by as many as ten new members. At present, "Durbes grauds" has more than 180 members in total.

He said that the main challenges for Latvia's grain farmers this year are the weather conditions, on which the grain harvest will depend, as well as the ability to recover from the negative impact of climatic conditions on yields last year, due to drought, and the year before, when a smaller grain harvest was collected because of floods and heavy rains.

"Cooperatives support their members in various ways; we look for solutions. At least none of our members went bankrupt last year because of the weather conditions," Bēča concluded.

Information from "Firmas.lv" shows that in 2017, "Durbes grauds" had a turnover of €13.598 million and a profit of €460,273.

"Durbes grauds" was founded in Liepāja in 2003. The cooperative's website states that the foundations of "Durbes grauds" were laid by 11 farmers, one of whom represented an SIA, two represented smallholdings, and eight represented farms. At present, "Durbes grauds" brings together more than 180 members from South Kurzeme.

"Durbes grauds" provides its members with services for the primary processing and marketing of grain and rapeseed, the procurement of production inputs, agronomic consultations, and educational events, as well as grain-quality laboratory services.