. The Agri-environment Payments in the Rural Development, Latvia

Agri-environment policies have become increasingly important in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in the European Union (EU) countries. Agro-environment support payments in Latvia until its accession to the EU were available in relatively limited amounts from the state budget and its funding from year 1998 until 2010 reached 2.5 million LVL3. After accession to the EU in 2004, support measures, including agri-environment support, are implemented in accordance with the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Main document for agro-environment support payment implementation was Rural Development Plan in 2004-2006 year period and Rural Development Programme in 2007-2013 year period. Main sources of funding - European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). In Latvia during years 2004-2009 number of beneficiaries of EU funded agri-environment payments has increased from 2267 up to 16000. In this period paid out were 107.9 million LVL in agro-environment payments in Latvia, which is an increase from 4.4 million LVL paid out in 2004 up to 24.6 million in 2009. Currently there are 11 various agro-environment support payments implemented in Latvia.