The main axes on which the Ministry of Rural Development and Food will move in the next period of time were developed today in the Parliament by the Minister, Lefteris Avgenakis, in the context of the Government’s programmatic statements.

The following priorities have been set for the implementation of the plan:

Restructuring of OPEKEPE

There is a complete picture of the current situation of OPEKEPE – it will be put in order based on the needs of each beneficiary, continuing the completion of the inclusion of OPEKEPE in the digital platform of gov.gr, so that the Greek producer can be easily and immediately served, to have a complete picture of his transactions, to feel secure about the transactions he performs and above all to have transparency and fairness in distributions.

Reform of the Hellenic Agricultural Insurance Organization (ELGA)

Digitization of ELGA’s services.

This is a project with a budget of €2.5 million which, among other things, will allow the Agricultural Appraiser to transparently and quickly complete the assessment of the damage to the producer’s property with his laptop, to record and inform ELGA on the spot and to estimate the extent of the damage and the amount of compensation due, so that the producer has full and clear knowledge of his case.

Young farmers:

Increase the number of professional young farmers by 60,000 until 2027. Already this year, the increased “fund” of support of 40,000 euros per farmer is running, while it is worth remembering that the relevant Young Farmers Program is the largest compared to the previous ones . In simple numbers: around 14,000 young farmers joined the Young Farmers Program worth 527 million euros. We have saved the necessary resources and are including all the runner-up young farmers in the young farmers support scheme. In practice, therefore, 2,096 runner-up young farmers join the program. With an amount of 77 million euros.

The Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027

“Our Strategic Plan supports interventions and actions amounting to 19.3 billion, which cover the special needs of our country and our rural areas. We seek the transition to a smart, sustainable, competitive, stable and diversified agricultural sector, while ensuring, in the long term, food security,” he stressed.

Water resources management:

“We are formulating a national water strategy that reflects its dramatic role as a guarantor of primary sector growth, the consequent competitive increase in production and the empowerment of the wider agricultural economy and entrepreneurship,” he said.

Particularly:

1. Reform of G.O.E.B.- T.O.E.B

2. Land improvement projects HYDOR 2.0

Creation of Agricultural Departments in the Chambers:

A key component of our policy is the support of entrepreneurship in the primary sector.

In this context, we are planning the creation of an Agricultural Department in each Chamber and the registration of farmers in it.

Reform of food control mechanisms

The main objectives are:

a) a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system, b) ensuring an adequate and diversified supply of safe, nutritious, affordable and sustainable food to citizens, c) the protection and support of Greek producers and Greek products.

Digital Agriculture

The digital strategy for the agri-food sector aims to strengthen the information systems of the Ministry and to integrate them with those of ELGA and OPEKEPE, so that all the obligations of farmers can be carried out, via the internet, without additional inconveniences.

Routine – building – Services

The central Administration of the Ministry is housed in 13 scattered buildings, many of which have serious security and functionality problems.

“Our goal is the concentration of all administrative services in one building, modern, functional and safe for all Ministry officials, our daily partners”