Agricultural crisis

Farmers picked up their scythes and rallied before the Estonian Parliament last week in a bid to call attention to what they say is an agricultural crisis. Around 500 farmers gathered before the Parliament building on Toompea giving passionate speeches and waving banners that protested against Estonia_s open market policy. Protest banners urged Prime Minister Mart Laar to impose customs tariffs. Others demanded, "Voimix back to Finland!" and claimed, "Agriculture will fall under the scythe of death!" Inside the Parliament building members were debating a bill, which had been introduced by the opposition, to impose customs duties on food products imported from third countries and the European Union. Toomas Paur, deputy to Urmas Laht, who heads the rural life crisis committee, said protesting farmers from across Estonia had united in a show of strength to bring attention to their plight.