In essence, the farmers were forced to take to the streets because they are now deprived of what is most important for them, the possibility to continue the production process and develop their professional activity, now being in despair.
We know very well that one of the big losers of climate change is farmers. The deadly floods in the plain of Thessaly have now created dead ends for thousands of farmers, who are waiting for practical support from the state.
Thessalian agricultural production was reduced by 200,000 acres, whole villages are now left with few inhabitants, the place is being deserted and we still have not seen a complete reconstruction plan.
Today Maximou is trying to buy political time until the agricultural mobilizations de-escalate, due to the upcoming sowing in March and the forced return of farmers to their work.
That is why it satisfies only temporarily, and with the “dropper”, some of their otherwise fair demands.
But the farmers’ problems are also our problems and we all have to understand that. Together we will see product prices skyrocket and food costs become increasingly unaffordable.
And that’s why the farmers won’t be held accountable, they don’t benefit from the precision, but someone in between, with the tolerance of the system. So the slogan of the farmers “No Farmers No Food” says it all in a concise and apt way.
However, the resolution of the main issues that concern the agricultural world will not come through legislative initiatives of minor importance or the settlement of administrative issues.
There must be fundamental changes in important problems, such as the effective treatment of unaffordable production costs, the modernization of ELGA, the effective management of bad loans and the protection of agricultural land, the immediate treatment of the practice of Greekization and adulteration of agricultural products, as well as the final and effective settlement of the issue with the land workers.
At the same time, the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy must be renegotiated, by simplifying the ecological schemes and adapting it to the needs of the Greek countryside, so that the beneficiaries are the real farmers.
In addition, energy communities must be created in rural areas to reduce energy costs to zero, the Special Consumption Tax on agricultural oil must be abolished, the ELGA regulation must be revised for fairer compensations, agricultural land must be protected from speculative practices and foreign funds, and of course necessary a condition for importing food and agricultural products from third countries is their certification according to European and national standards.
A quality development with extroversion and good jobs is necessary not only to keep agricultural production alive but also to create a new generation of farmers, which will revitalize the Greek region. A development that sells off agricultural land to funds, based on real estate and a tourism that does not leave benefits in other sectors of the economy is wrong and will be to the detriment of the country.
Sofia Katsigianni is a Doctor of Law in Athens, president of the social organization “We are One” and al. Secretary of Tourism Sector of PASOK – KINAL
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