The challenges of Greek rural economy and government policies were the subject of greeting of the Minister of State, Maki Voridisin the scientific forum under the name “Business with Y-γ-I-A-A and intelligence», Performed at Agrinio.

After saying that the primary sector is one of the major priorities and commitments of the government, the Minister of State noted that there are already tangible results of government policy. In this regard, while there was a rural balance deficit in the past, this has changed spectacularly in recent years, as he said, and added: “In the last four years we have a steady positive balance, which means we are exporting more than we are introducing.”

This, he explained, has happened thanks to the producers, thanks to the spectacular increase in the productivity and competitiveness of Greek products, thanks to the proper use of the resources of the Rural Development Program, thanks to a series of targeted actions by the competent ministry.

Mr Voridis then referred to two policies that were employed, except for the relevant ministry, and the presidency of the government.

The first has to do with greenhouses: an important role in increasing productivity – as he pointed out – have been played by greenhouse crops, for which resources were secured, specifically for both new greenhouses and the modernization of existing ones. By changing greenhouse technology you greatly improve competitiveness, observe, and determined the necessary funding at two billion euros, adding that the first 300 million have already been secured.

The second policy, which the government’s presidency, as the minister pointed out, is the red loans of the farmers of farmers of 2.5 billion, which concern about 21,000 debtors of farmers and 700 agricultural cooperatives. This policy is implemented in consultation with the Bank of Greece and the wider banking sector, but also with the National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives: together “we have shaped a much more flexible framework for the management of these loans,” he said. This allows for a loan settlement and, under conditions, to access bank lending again. “This has been voted and now we are in the phase of implementation. The BoG is watching, there is a three -month deadline to complete the procedures of this program, “he said on the issue.

In conclusion, in order to stay or return new farmers to their country, the Greek agricultural economy must become more competitive, according to Mr Voridis, who also referred to the horizontal measures taken by the government. For example, in energy costs farmers have an excellent privileged invoice. In agricultural oil the demands of the farmers, which “have had many years, have been fully accepted in the rural oil, I have been listening to them in the last decade, (these demands) were satisfied by the government and are already in place.”

Finally, the Minister of State set yet another goal: “To leave the horizontal policies, to enter the vertical policies, for example the policies for olive cultivation, for olive oil, in particular, the policies for citrus fruits, the peach, the livestock.” In short, he described the goal of giving aid per industry, but one presupposes to study what is going on in the international market.