M offers crisis support for forestry and agriculture – Pages

This is part of our budget motion, which we will be presenting tomorrow, told the spokesperson of the party for the environment and agriculture, Maria Malmer Stenergard, to TT.

Crisis support will help loggers and farmers cope with the consequences of summer drought and large forest fires.

Reduction of the diesel tax

The majority, 760 million SEK, concerns crisis aid to agriculture. This corresponds to the amount presented by the red-green government before the elections, but was removed from the transitional government's draft budget.

On top of that, M is offering SEK 72 million crisis support to firewood owners.

At the same time, the motion proposes a reduction of the diesel tax for the industries concerned for a total of SEK 410 million.

Specifically, M wants the reduction of the diesel tax to be increased from SEK 1.70 to SEK 2.47 per liter in 2019. In the transitional government's draft budget, a reduction of SEK 1:43 per liter is proposed.

Already today, agriculture, forestry and aquaculture are benefiting from a reduction in the diesel tax. But this reduction decreases with the transitional government's budget and we want to increase it, says Malmer Stenegard.

Common reserve

For Malmer Stenegard, M's goal now is to advance his budget proposals by writing together a common pool within the Finance Committee with other parties.

She adds that it is very problematic for the drought and fire industries that aid has been removed from the draft transitional government budget.

In addition to being affected by the drought, they are also extremely affected by the tough international competition due to the high cost situation, she said.

She also criticizes the fact that the affected industries are overwhelmed by what she calls "many rule problems".

The red-green government has not made life easier in recent years.

The Swedish Board of Agriculture has been slow to make payments for a long time and there are many who have liquidity problems. It is therefore extremely important that these funds are now distributed.