ELGA Vice President: Dealing with the effects of climate change on two fronts

The policy that will be followed by ELGA to deal with the effects of climate change in the primary sector will consist of two axes, as stressed by the Vice President of the Insurance Organization, Nikos Doukas in an interview with the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency.

Among other things, it is positive that the territory will be divided into zones, in which the “correct” crops will be produced, which will have been suggested by the scientists, in combination with the incentive for the farmers to change their production.

At the same time, Mr. Doukas emphasizes that the direction of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), towards a more “green future” will help address the climate crisis.

Finally, it states that the agency now pays compensation to the affected producers in one installment and “not partially as in the recent past”, which it notes, “is a practical confirmation of the importance and priority of the agricultural and livestock sector for the government”.

The following is the interview of the vice president of ELGA

– With the effects of climate change becoming more and more apparent in our country, what are the moves by ELGA to address them?

ELGA is the Insurance Organization of the agricultural and livestock production of the country. As is obvious, the effects of the climate crisis on productivity but also on plant and animal capital, in addition to increasing the amount of compensation, also causes intense pressure on perhaps the only productive economy in the country, the agricultural economy.

With these data the Organization moves in two axes. First, the effective treatment of the “daily” damages so that we have reliable, fair and as fast as possible compensations of the insured producers.

Secondly, in the direction of its modernization by creating the conditions for the use of all available technology tools, increasing the efficiency, reliability and speed of the evaluation process.

The contribution of ELGA in dealing with the phenomena of the climate crisis consists mainly in the methods of active and passive protection from intense climatic phenomena such as hail.

Aerial hail protection has been applied in certain areas for many years and since the phenomena have intensified, we have considered the possibility of extending hail protection to more areas.

The committee I was honored to chair has already tabled its proposal for new opportunities and how to extend protection to more areas.

Regarding the passive protection with hail nets, ELGA manages the financing program of the RDP to the Greek producers who wish to implement them.

Corresponding is the effort we plan for the protection of crops and for the phenomena of frost.

All of the above concern the responsibilities of ELGA as an insurance organization but the actions to deal with the climate crisis should be drastic to address the root of the problem that causes it and these are none other than the direct reduction of polluting gas emissions that cause global warming.

– Is there a plan to divide the country into zones, in order to cultivate the “right” crops, in the “right” areas?

The issue of “cultivation zones” is of particular interest and I make no secret of the fact that I personally support it. If the right crops in the right areas based on the prevailing climatic conditions was a very good move in the recent past, now, in my opinion, with the strong phenomena it is a necessary direction.

The scientific definition of the crops that thrive in each region and the creation of incentives for producers to invest in them will lead on the one hand to increase productivity and quality of products and from the insurance point of view of the organization to reduce disasters and therefore compensation.

– Do you think that the new CAP will help address the effects of the climate crisis?

Sustainable, green and digital agriculture is a direction of the European Union that is clearly reflected in the new CAP. The aid provided in this direction, I am sure, will be an incentive for Greek producers to adopt modern digital practices in combination with the proper management of water resources and the reduction of the use of polluting supplies, contributing to the global effort to normalize the climate.

– The compensations paid by the Insurance Organization to the affected producers amount to several million euros per year, due to the increasing natural disasters

Indeed, the burden on the body in recent years due to severe and in some cases extreme weather events, has been particularly significant. ELGA is a remunerative insurance organization that manages mainly the insurance contributions of Greek producers. The practical support of the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the government contributed greatly to the Organization to fully meet its obligations with speed and reliability.

To cite some examples concerning our administration, ELGA now pays 100% of the damage in one installment and not in installments as in the recent past, as well as has made immediate advances in compensation and prompt repayment in cases of extensive natural disasters such as Janos and the frosts of Spring 2021.

The Organization also had a very active participation in the overall planning of the response to extreme weather events, submitting its experience and know-how where required.

The above is a practical confirmation of the importance and priority of the Agricultural and Livestock sector for the government and the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. With the appropriate structural and development interventions, the necessary synergies, its direct connection with food and tourism can be a critical pillar of development of the Greek economy in general.

Source: AMPE