“The government immediately showed its reflexes. We proposed immediate solutions. The dialogue with the farmers continues” the Minister of Development and Food told the Production and Trade Committee of the Parliament Lefteris Avgenakis on the agricultural mobilizations during the second reading of the bill on “Strengthening standard animal husbandry, fisheries and aquaculture regulations, provisions on phytosanitary, biocidal products and food quality and other provisions to stimulate rural development” .

“The ND government showed its reflexes by immediately proposing solutions to the just demands of the agricultural world of our country. With the continuation of the dialogue, I am sure that we will be able to get the results that we all want,” the minister emphasized, stressing that “the ND is a purely popular faction with great support in Greek farmers. We were, are and will be by the side of every farmer, breeder, fisherman and beekeeper”.

Mr. Avgenakis called on opposition parties “not to rush to judgment as we are preparing seven new pieces of legislation, most of which will come within 2024, so wait to see our reform vision for the agri-food sector completed before you make unwarranted criticism that will expose you.”

Regarding the axes of the current bill, he said that its provisions “on the one hand introduce a new regulatory framework to support farmers and on the other hand regulate operational issues and support farmers affected by natural disasters, fires and floods in Evros and Thessaly”

In particular, the minister pointed out that with this draft law: “Livestock parks are created to house animals, supporting the viability of small livestock businesses. Bureaucracy is dealt with and solutions are given to the problem of inconsequential fishing appeals. Regulations are introduced for fishing tourism and aquaculture. A sufficient framework is created for the parallel production of rural photovoltaics and their operation on highly productive land. The daily life of the producers is helped and their chronic problems are solved, ensuring their sustainability in general. Issues of those affected who were temporarily or permanently in a state of emergency are regulated. Operational, regulatory and legislative issues of all kinds are settled and streamlined. The improvement of the functioning of the Organizations is ensured. Agricultural Departments are introduced in the Chambers, enhancing business productivity”.

Analyzing the provisions of the bill and responding to the comments of the opposition MPs, Mr. Avgenakis, among other things, pointed out that grazing management will either be run by the regions or the Ministry of Agricultural Development, “this pending situation towards the EU and our livestock farmers must end”. He announced that “after the passing of the bill, automatically, at the end of February, the disbursement process of approximately 2.5 million euros will begin to support the approximately 480 fishermen of Pagasitikos and the Sporades.” He clarified that granting the possibility of fishing tourism to aquaculture vessels within their facilities, “does not deprive our fishermen of vital space nor do we limit them, on the contrary we support them” and added that tomorrow in Plenary session will submit additions to the fishing tourism provisions to make their content even clearer.

Regarding animal landfills, Mr. Augenakis pointed out that the provision of the bill creates the framework and this authority, apart from the municipalities, can also be exercised by the Associations of Municipalities and by Intermunicipal Partnerships and of course the municipalities or the Association will be financially supported for this.

For solar on highly productive land, he said what we are talking about is the dual use of land, farming and installing solar systems so that our plains are not filled with panels, this is a practice that is widely used abroad.