The process of setting up Agricultural Departments in the country’s Chambers is progressing rapidly, after the passed bill of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food. This included a number of provisions concerning the establishment of agricultural departments in the chambers, as well as the establishment, operation and management of an Electronic Register of Farmers.

“With the passing of Law 5087/2024, articles 50-53, the Agricultural Departments within the Chambers that have been discussed for more than 10 years are implemented. Those involved in the primary sector who carry out commercial activity will be registered in the agricultural sections (that is, those who are already and will join GEMI in the future)” said the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Lefteris Avgenakis, underlining that “using the structures, know-how, experience and the operating framework of the Chambers, we want to integrate the Agricultural Departments into their institutional framework, giving access to the benefits of an already organized structure to producers and professionals in the primary sector. Our goal is for the Agricultural Departments to be the vestibule of the Agricultural Chambers”.

In our country, before the establishment of the new framework, Agricultural Departments were already operating in Chambers of Serres, Trikala, Larissa, Karditsa, Drama and Magnesia. To these will be added, according to the data so far, another 45 Chambers, which appear positive in terms of the establishment of Agricultural Departments. Of these, 22 have initiated the establishment procedures (e.g. by decision of the Board of Directors), while the remaining 23 are positive regarding the establishment of agricultural departments, but have not yet begun the procedures.

In more detail, the 22 Chambers that have initiated the establishment procedures are as follows: Commercial and Industrial of Athens, Industrial of Thessaloniki, Commercial and Industrial of Piraeus, Professional of Piraeus, Aitoloakarnania, Achaia, Boeotia, Evros, Imathia, Heraklion, Thesprotia, Ioannina, Kefalonia and Ithaca, Corinth, Larissa, Lasithi, Magnesia, Preveza, Chania, Chios) .

The 23 that are positive about the establishment of rural departments, but have not yet started the procedures are: Industrial of Athens, Commercial and Industrial of Thessaloniki, Professional & Industrial of Rhodope, Arcadia, Arta, Grevena, Drama, Dodecanese, Evia, Ilia, Kavala, Karditsa, Kastoria, Corfu, Kilkis, Kozani, Laconia, Lesvos, Lefkada, Xanthi, Rethymno, Samos and Fthiotida.

There are 5 Chambers that have not been activated up to now in terms of the possibility of establishing an Agricultural Department.

Interconnection of the Register of Farmers with the register of Farmers and Agricultural Holdings of the HYPAAT

At the same time, within the planning of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food is the interconnection of the Register of Farmers with the register of Farmers and Agricultural Holdings of the FSAAT.

“A Register of Farmers is recommended, which will include all those professionally employed in the primary sector without exception” pointed out Mr. Avgenakis.

According to him, “the Register, which will be managed by the Chambers, but will belong to YPAAT, will also have an interface with the Register of Farmers and Agricultural Holdings (MAAE). Through this mechanism, we want to know more information about professional farmers” he said and added “Until today, there is no complete and correct picture neither of the age information nor of the knowledge level of each farmer. These data will help us to develop targeted educational programs, actions and policies for the benefit of our producers”.

In this direction, teleconferences have been held between the political leadership and YPAAT officials as well as GEMI managers from the Chambers regarding the technical operation of the Registry. The goal is for the registry to be functional and meet the goals of the FSAAT.

Finally, a future technical teleconference is planned with the Chambers of the country in order to immediately start the implementation of the register and to clarify the technical specifications of its operation.