The schedule of payments towards them farmersin the measures to support the primary sector, but also in the actions to restore the damages from natural disasters, mentioned the Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food, Christos Kellas, speaking to SKAI.
Speaking about the pending payments to farmers, the FSA emphasized that “measure 23, amounting to 178.5 million euros, which concerns a wide range of agricultural products, is being applied for the first time”. As he explained, this money “comes from the redistribution of program funds, in order to strengthen the primary sector, as last year was difficult, with low prices and reduced productions”.
Mr. Kellas noted that the basic aid will be paid at the end of November. At the same time, the procedure for the issuance of a KYA for the reconstitution of the plant capital due to Daniel in the amount of 50 million euros is progressing. Fifteen days after the basic aid, an advance payment of 100 million euros will be given by ELGA for the damages caused due to frost in 2025.
The FSA reported in detail the amounts that will be channeled to farmers in the near future:
- 600 million euros from the basic aid,
- 180 million euros from measure 23 and
- 50 million euros as an advance for the reconstruction of plant capital in the affected areas.
“The money has already been paid as a refund of the Special Consumption Tax on agricultural oil, while the subsidies for the animal feed of livestock farmers throughout the country have been repaid”, said Mr. Kellas, adding that “in Thessaly, an additional 12 million euros have been paid for fields that were left uncultivated due to the material brought by the bad weather “Daniel”.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that “This year there were delays in payments due to OPEKEPE. He pointed out that “for the first time in recent years, the ELGA compensations for frosts will be paid within a few months”. As he said, “The inspections at OPEKEPE are continuing. So far, in the first 1,000 tax IDs that were checked, 22 million euros have been reserved as unduly paid. The Ministry is making every effort to restore order and support the local economy.”
For smallpox in goats and sheep
Referring to the issue of smallpox, Mr. Kellas clarified that “It was not the Ministry’s decision not to vaccinate. It is the official proposal of all the veterinarians of the professors of the two Universities we have, Aristotle and Thessalia, who are overwhelmingly against the vaccine, as there is no officially licensed vaccine in the EU”. He added that “in countries where vaccination is practiced, the disease continues to exist and deaths occur. Unfortunately, biosecurity measures are not being followed, as they should be”.
In closing, the Deputy Minister was asked about the interview of former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, noting: “I do not want to comment on an interview of a former Prime Minister in a difficult situation. Antonis Samaras was a good Prime Minister, who kept Greece in Europe in critical moments”. Mr. Kellas added that “the New Democracy and its politics are judged by the result”, underlining that “the fact that Greece is developing into an energy hub and natural gas gateway for Europe shows the country’s dynamics and the effectiveness of the government. In this national effort to restore the economy, no one is spared – we all have to be together”, concluded the FSA.