Young Latgale farmer Žanis Agafonovs, 25, wins Ministry of Agriculture award

Žanis Agafonovs, a farmer from Latgale, the eastern region of Latvia, has won the “Successful Young Farmer” category of the “Sējējs 2026” competition run by Latvia's Ministry of Agriculture. He is 25 and took over the family farm several years ago; its size has grown considerably since.

From 22 to 80 hectares

Agafonovs started with 22 hectares inherited within the family and now works 80 hectares. The farm grows winter and spring wheat, oats and barley, along with vegetables such as garlic and onions. It also produces certified seed of red clover and meadow timothy. At the start, work was done with his grandfather's old “Belarus” tractor.

He relies on European Union fund support to modernise. The first projects, worth roughly 40,000 euros, paid for a new tractor and a sprayer; a seed drill and a combine harvester followed. For a young farmer, half of a project's cost is reimbursed: of 50,000 euros spent, 25,000 come back. He maintains soil quality with green manure and crop rotation, sowing red clover or timothy after grain.

Higher yields

Agafonovs studied agricultural entrepreneurship at Malnava College. He says his forebears harvested two to three tonnes per hectare, while he now threshes about five to six. He treats fields with micronutrients and also consults artificial intelligence for information.

In his view, there is no free farmland in Latgale, and stories of overgrown fields are untrue. He names a shortage of labour as the main local challenge, so the farm relies on his family.

Plans

He wants to farm 1,000 hectares, moving away from grain towards seed production and garlic. He sells garlic at fairs and through parcel lockers: large bulbs cost six euros a kilogram, medium ones four and small ones three. To compete with Spanish and Chinese produce, he hopes to buy equipment and mechanise work. His next goal is the “Farm of the Year” title.