Current question Al. Tsipras in K. Mitsotaki for the farmers

The President of SYRIZA-PS Alexis Tsipras brings to Parliament the issue of “economic suffocation of farmers”, calling on the Prime Minister to take “even at the last minute” specific measures.

With a topical question, the leader of the Official Opposition accuses Kyriakos Mitsotakis of attempting to deceive the farmers by announcing insufficient and inferior measures in conditions of unprecedented wave of precision that affects the primary production. While the Mitsotakis government, continues the President of SYRIZA-PS, took care to make the worst and most opaque payment of direct European subsidies that has been made in the chronicles.

The Prime Minister is asked:

Why has it not taken the necessary measures to safeguard the production of the primary sector, the viability of agricultural holdings and the support of farmers’ incomes?
It intends, even now, to take substantial measures to reduce energy costs, such as the return of the EFC for agricultural oil to all farmers without exception, as well as the targeted subsidy of agricultural electricity tariffs in order to offset the exorbitant cost of the adjustment clause. ;

The full text of the Question follows

Athens, February 21, 2022

CURRENT QUESTION

To the Prime Minister

Subject: Rising production costs create economic suffocation for producers and endanger the rural economy

Primary production is affected by an unprecedented wave of precision that sweeps almost all factors of production.

Energy costs, the price of oil and electricity have multiplied, while at the same time raw materials, fertilizers, seeds, medicines, animal feed have been launched.

According to the latest data from ELSTAT, the November 2021 prices of all Inputs in Georgia – Livestock showed a greater or lesser increase on an annual basis (compared to 2020). The protagonist in the annual increase is energy with an increase of 34.9%.

The increases in diesel are now in the range of 30%. But also in the wholesale price of electricity, Greece has been emerging for months as a “champion” of accuracy, while at the same time Greek agriculture has the highest degree of dependence on electricity in Europe. As a result, the cost of cultivation / breeding is borne excessively by increases in energy, both in absolute numbers and compared to the rest of Europe.

Simultaneously with the increases in energy and production factors, the final blow was caused by the effects on the production volume due to the phenomena of the climate crisis but also the problems in the distribution of products due to the pandemic.

The measures announced by the government are an attempt to deceive the farmers. They are completely misplaced, fragmentary, delayed and far below the circumstances.

In addition, the ND government has taken care to make the worst and most opaque direct European subsidy payment ever made, leaving farmers doubly exposed to the new wave of precision and constant price increases.

Because there is already a huge burden on the cost of production of agricultural products which will have a very large impact first and foremost on the income of producers,

Because the huge cost of producing agricultural products endangers the viability of small and medium-sized farms, the economy and rural life,

Because the problem of rising costs of agricultural products will further exacerbate the problem of declining household purchasing power, which according to the overall policy of the government is already very serious and concerns both low and middle incomes,

The Prime Minister is asked:

Why has it not taken the necessary measures to safeguard the production of the primary sector, the viability of agricultural holdings and the support of farmers’ incomes?
It intends, even now, to take substantial measures to reduce energy costs, such as the return of the EFC for agricultural oil to all farmers without exception, as well as the targeted subsidy of agricultural electricity tariffs in order to offset the exorbitant cost of the adjustment clause. ;