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Address by the President of the Republic at the opening of Maamess 2004 at the Fairs Centre of AS Tartu Näitused on 15 April 200415.04.2004
Dear visitors and organisers of Maamess,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Our Maamess, for today already a long-time tradition, is an important event for the people who are fond of countryside and farming.
Agriculture and rural life since the restoration of our independence have experienced great changes. In the course of reforms and changing market conditions, the share of agriculture in the value added in Estonian economy has gone down to three percent; tens of thousands of people have given up farming and the rate of land tenure has fallen by nearly a third. Today's agricultural production compared to that of 1989 is only 40%; this backlog is reflected also by relatively low pay for the people engaged in the agricultural sector.
Yet today, there's no reason to ring the death knell for the Estonian agriculture and rural life. The great interest in Maamess shows that we have lots of tenacious and enterprising people who are committed to the advancement of farming and forestry. In just a couple of weeks' time, Estonia will become a Member of the European Union. Then, the competitive conditions and market opportunities of our products are going to improve. Should we be able to use EU subsidies wisely, the development of rural life and farming would gain new momentum.
Already at present we can see agricultural production intensifying in Estonia: the crops and productivity of animals have increased. Nearly a half of agricultural land is concentrated in large, 100 hectares plus farms. But there is no doubt that also small farms and small-scale production have good prospects, for instance in the organic farming sector, which by now occupies just slightly over 3% of cultivated land. On top of that, under the conditions of the European Union, new opportunities for the development of our network of tourist farms will open up.
It is important that there were wholesome Estonian food on the table of Estonian people. There is more and more talk about agriculture and rural life having also non-commercial aspects, such as maintaining cross-generational continuity, the Estonians' traditional way of life and scenic beauty. The competition "Kaunis kodu" (Beautiful Home), reinstated in 1998, and the competitions for the Most Beautiful School Prize and the Most Beautiful Municipality Prize, established later, have helped to hold these values in honour. There are also plans to launch a competition entitled "The Most Beautiful Forest District Office". By now, there are already 448 laureates of the highest prizes. But I am sure that this is only the beginning since each household tidied with love and care makes someone of us happier than so far.
The Maamess of Tartu plays an important role in promoting agriculture and rural life: hundreds of manufacturers from several countries exhibit modern high-quality machines and devices here. I am glad to see that the fair keeps pace with changing times and offers, in addition to big agricultural machines, also smaller garden tools and commodities in order to tend, apart from woods and fields, close surroundings of one's home as well.
I wish you luck, strength and success in implementing contemporary technologies.
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