Estonia: Vegetable production down due to farm worker shortage

Vegetable production in Estonia is declining due to a shortage of farm workers, ERR reports. As a result, imports and consumer prices of vegetables are rising. In 2019, Estonian farmers grew vegetables on a total area of 2,035 hectares, whereas in 2023, the area is around 50% less. The farm labour shortage began during the coronavirus pandemic. Priit Põldma, lecturer at the Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMÜ), said that another reason why farmers may also have reduced the area of arable land used for growing vegetables is that pest and disease control is more difficult at the moment due to new regulations on crop protection products.