Greek farmers are preparing gatherings and rallies with tractors in Thessaly

A series of mobilizations have been planned by the farmers in Karditsa and Larissa, demanding, among other things, measures for production costs as well as replenishment of lost income.

In particular, today Thursday, April 20, 2023, the United Federation of Agricultural Associations of Karditsa, has called for rallies at the PPC and DEDDIE venues for 10 am, demanding a reduction in the price of electricity as well as measures to cover the damages caused by the thefts at the pumping stations.

On Friday, April 21, a delegation of the Federation will travel to Larissa, at 10 am, to stage a protest at the offices of Organization for Payments and Control of Community Aid Guidance and Guarantees-OPEKEPE, on the occasion of the problems faced by many farmers with the payment of the connected tax.

Also, the Federation is sounding the alarm on the issue of water and a possible shortage ahead of the start of the irrigation season.

Tractor rallies in Larissa

Rallies with tractors are organized on Wednesday, April 26, which will take place in Agia and Elassona, while similar mobilizations will take place in the area of the municipality of Tempi, as well as in the neighboring villages.

This decision was taken at a meeting organized by the United Federation of Agricultural Associations of Larissa.

The demands as they emerged from the meeting are:

• To ensure coverage of the lost income for the prefecture of Larissa and for all areas that grow almonds, and not just for three villages of Magnesia, as all producers are entitled to it.
• To include the cherries in covering the lost income, as the government echelon had promised two months ago.
• To immediately give the 50 euros per hectare for the green apples of Agia, which were hit by fruit blight, resulting in a large reduction in production and income, and the Minister of Rural Development had pledged for them, but they are not in the press release of the ministry.
• To give additional aid to the Chestnuts of the Prefecture of Larissa as there was a promise, but also ELGA recorded, which suffered damage in production due to gray rot and the 150?/acre covers only a minimal part of the loss of income
• Immediate measures to reduce exorbitant production costs.
• Duty free oil, as for shipowners.
• An increase in the tax return, of only 76 million euros announced by the government, and under the pressure of the farmers’ mobilizations, as in the meeting with the prime minister, the promise was made to take action and increase the amount.
• Ceiling of 7 cents per kilowatt-hour on rural electricity, abolition of the Energy Exchange and the polluter fine. Subsidy of means – supplies and animal feed, abolition of VAT.