The first package of measures of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food was presented by Minister Lefteris Avgenakis, during today’s press conference in Alexandroupoli of the government echelon that visited Evros, the Prefecture which, as he said, “has been tested again and again, this time it’s okay the flames, but he did not kneel.”

He stated that with his colleagues, the deputy minister Mr. Keletsis, the president of ELGA Mr. Lykourenzos, the governor of the FSAAT Mr. Stratako and in a meeting attended by Mr. Triandopoulos, a first package of measures was prepared from the FSAAT side. He noted that ELGA has proceeded with the immediate completion of the declarations, rapid recording of data, immediate and detailed recording and issuance of findings for the immediate compensation of insured production of animal and plant capital. For livestock there is a repayment schedule within October. For plant capital, with the utilization of the Copernicus system, the drawing up of an advance payment schedule for damages before the end of ’23 is progressing with the beneficiary producers, in contrast to other years, when the interval amounted to one, two to three years. “Today we are direct and we owe this to the new structure and operation of ELGA and to the activation of our executives, to whom we sincerely thank.” Also, with the participation of ELGA agronomists and veterinarians in the State Aid Committees for fire-affected areas, already with mixed levels, the registrations are progressing rapidly.

Mr. Avgenakis also announced the establishment of a Crisis Management Committee within the FSA under the chairmanship of the Deputy Minister, Mr. Keletsi, so that issues that constantly arise will be first assessed, processed and quickly in cooperation with the services of the FSA or other ministries to accelerate the rate of dealing with them. “We are focusing on changing the entire investment programs of the RDP as well as the sectoral programs. More specifically, we are examining the increased allocation for the inclusion of fire victims in these programs, while we are examining the extension of the time for the implementation of contractual obligations – that is, it concerns already integrated programs, investment plans, such as the improvement plans or the “new farmers”.

The Minister of Rural Development and Food said that following communication with the president of ELGO-Dimitra Mr. Haroutunian, the payment of fees for milk and meat is suspended for two years, a measure that concerns livestock farmers. At the same time, in collaboration with the Institute of Soil and Water Resources, through soil analyzes it will be investigated what can be cultivated on these lands from now on. He also announced “the organization of workshops and informative meetings, in collaboration with the first and second grade self-government to provide the necessary assistance and scientific information to farmers in order to give directions for the best, the most correct, the most correct”. Finally, plans have been issued for the restoration of olive cultivation, viticulture, pastures and beekeeping, while “in cooperation with the Region and under the direction of the Regional Governor, Mr. Metios, the issue of animal feed will be dealt with in the most courageous and satisfactory way , something that will be analyzed in the next year by the Regional Governor himself”.