A meeting will take place next Monday (18/5), in YPAT, between producers and leadership of the ministry and representatives of the ELGA, in which the problems of damage to the proanthetic from the spring frost of 2025 will be discussed.
As the President of the Union Federation of Agricultural Associations (EOAS) Imathias Mr. Dimitris Tsiulakos reports to the Agrotype, «over a year has passed and even the producers in the proanthetic stage have not been compensated (keras, apples etc.). We are talking about producers who did not have a reduced or no income last year and have serious problems, and have no financial liquidity to continue farming. They still haven't paid the aid. (de minimis) to reduce production due to frost in 2021.
Representatives from EOAS Imathias, the Agricultural Association will participate in the meeting «PERSON» Pellas Vryas, Pella Agricultural Association «Section», Vegoritis Agricultural Association – Kaimaktsalan, Eastern Eordaia and Southern Basin Vegoritis, Almopia Agricultural Association, in the presence of the representative of the Panhellenic Committee of Blocks (EPM) and president of the United Federation of Agricultural Associations of Larisa Prefecture (EOASNL)».
For his part, Mr. Nikos Jingas, chairman of the Vegoritis – Kaimaktsalan Agricultural Association, points out to the Agricultural Press that «We call for fair compensation for producers affected by the frosts of 2025 and not compensated by the ELGA. To date producers are forced to live on loan. We ask for compensation based on the estimates made locally by the ELGA farmers».
Letter of Western Macedonia Agricultural Associations
The direct intervention of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food is requested by the Western Macedonia Agricultural Associations, making a joint request for full and fair compensation for producers affected by the devastating frosts of Spring 2025.
By letter to the Minister for Rural Development and Food Mr.Margaritis Schinas, with notification to the Region of Western Macedonia and to the Members of the Regional Units of Kozani, Florina, Kastoria and Grevena, the farmers' representatives express their deep concern and concern about the serious damage caused to the cultivation of apples, cherries, lotes and industrial pears.
As they point out, extreme weather conditions that prevailed during the pro-anthetic crop stage resulted in widespread damage to production, causing a significant loss of income to farmers and a serious blow to the local economy, which is largely based on the primary sector.
The Agricultural Associations request:
- full and fair compensation for all affected producers,
- the adoption of additional support measures to ensure the sustainability of agricultural holdings and the continuation of production activity in the region.
As they point out in their letter, early intervention by the state is vital for maintaining agricultural production in our region.
The letter is signed by the following agricultural operators:
Agricultural Association of the Municipality of Amyntaios
Rural Plant Production Association of the Municipality of Velvedos
Agricultural Association of Municipality of Descatis
Agricultural Association «Macedon» Kastoria
Florina Farming Association «Pelagonites»
Question in Parliament
With his new parliamentary intervention, MP ND of Imathia, Tasos Bartzokas, urgently asks for compensation for all crops affected by the spring frost of 2025 and not covered by the existing regulation of ELGA, such as apples, pears, cherries, pomegranates, quinces and other tree growings, as well as the outstanding compensation for the rainfall of August 2024.
With his question to the Minister for Rural Development and Food Margaritis Schinas, Tassos Bartzokas asks the Ministry to present a specific support plan and a clear payment schedule, stressing that producers cannot remain in a state of uncertainty at the time when they are invited to meet the increased agricultural costs of the new year, their insurance and tax obligations, without income and without any specific information on when they will receive the support they are entitled to.
In his parliamentary intervention, the MP points out that the spring 2025 frost caused almost total loss of production in many tree crops in Imathia Prefecture. Special reference is made to crops such as apples, pears, cherries, pomegranates, quinces and other tree crops, which have been seriously damaged, without so far being compensated or a clear timetable for its payment.
Tassos Bartzokas stresses that, according to the information he has from his successive communications both with the President of ELGA and with the Annex Pella-Emathias, the relevant damage reports and the necessary data have already been sent months ago to the relevant ministries. This fact, as he notes, now makes it necessary to take immediate decisions so that no more valuable time is wasted for producers.
At the same time, the MP also reinstates the outstanding compensation for the rainfall of August 2024, which hit seriously the trees of Imathia, mainly peaches, nectarines and other stone fruits.
Untimely rainfall, at a critical stage of the harvest, caused a massive drop in fruit, a deterioration in quality and a loss of marketability, leading many producers to zero income, even though they had already borne the total agricultural costs.
Tassos Bartzokas points out that there had been a commitment from the then leadership of the Ministry of Rural Development to support producers with exceptional financial support, as, according to the ELGA view, they are not covered by the applicable Regulation. For this reason, it asks to be clarified immediately what the Ministry's design is and when the aid is planned.
In particular, with his Parliamentary Question he asks:
1. The overall planning of the Ministry for the compensation of all crops affected by the spring frost of 2025 at an anteanthetic stage and not covered by the applicable ELGA Regulation,
2. A specific legislative or financial arrangement shall be made immediately to compensate all affected crops without exceptions and exclusions,
3. Exact timetable for completion of procedures, notification of support measures and payment of compensation;
4. Planning to compensate crops affected by the rainfall of August 2024.
In a statement Tasos Bartzokas says: «The farmers of Imathia cannot wait any longer in uncertainty. The spring frost of 2025 caused enormous damage to many trees, not covered by the ELGA Regulation, while the outstanding compensation for the rainfall of August 2024 remains open. Producers have already raised a disproportionate burden: they lost their production, paid the crop costs and today they are invited to start a new year without a clear support horizon. I ask the Ministry to proceed immediately to a comprehensive and fair compensation plan, without exceptions and exclusions. No affected crop must be left out. What producers need today is not general assurances, but clear answers, a specific timetable and direct financial support. I will continue to press institutionally and firmly until a fair solution is given to the farmers of Imathia».
