Sweden Unveils Crisis Package to Help Drought-Stricken Farmers

(Bloomberg) -- Sweden’s government unveiled a 1.2 billion-krona ($137 million) package to help farmers amid a record heat wave and dry-spell across the Nordic country.

The government will seek to pay out an immediate 400 million kronor in aid this year and an additional 760 million kronor next year. It will also seek increased aid from the European Union.

“A national support package for Sweden’s farmers is not only important for those affected but also to strengthen our food supply,” Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson said at a press conference in Stockholm.

Sweden has been hit by massive forest fires and a persistent drought amid near record high temperatures. Animal feed is now in short supply, forcing farmers to resort to expensive imports.

To contact the reporter on this story: Rafaela Lindeberg in Stockholm at rlindeberg@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jonas Bergman at jbergman@bloomberg.net

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