Farmers and livestock breeders from across Greece were heading into Athens on Tuesday for a protest rally at 12 noon outside the Rural Development and Food Ministry, demanding delayed payouts from the agricultural subsidy agency OPEKEPE and support for flocks hit by a sheep and goat pox outbreak.

The National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (ETHEAS) is organizing the downtown Athens rally, which will be followed by a march to OPEKEPE. A farmers’ delegation then plan to deliver a list of demands to the deputy prime minister and the rural development minister.

Tuesday’s action is expected to cause traffic and transport disruptions in the city center.

Deputy Rural Development Minister Christos Kellas said that payments to the agricultural community “have begun and are continuing, after the completion of cross-checks.” He added that basic aid and €178 million income losses will be paid by the end of November.

The measures have not appeased farmers, who have suffered significant losses from the temporary suspension of payouts by OPEKEPE following revelations that millions of euros were distributed in illegal subsidies, a widespread sheep pox epidemic and climate-related damages.

Accusing the government of failure to get a handle on the sheep pox epidemic, which has resulted in more than 400,000 animals being culled, the Federation of Livestock Breeders of Thessaly has called for “dynamic and resolute” participation in Tuesday’s action. It also organized transportation to Athens for Thessaly’s farmers from Larissa, Tyrnavos, Trikala and Volos.

Meanwhile, in Serres in northern Greece, farmers are also revving up their tractor engines for similar action locally. Diamantis Diamantopoulos, president of the Pan-Serraian Agricultural Association, said mobilizations are “the only way to go.”

Unions have indicated that Tuesday’s protest in Athens may be just a taste of things to come, as they will be meeting in Larissa on November 23 to decide on more nationwide action pressing for progress in talks over delays in subsidy payouts and rising operating costs.

Source: Ekathimerini.com