How to compensate for plant products affected by the summer fires

The government, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, in close cooperation with the Hellenic Agricultural Insurance Organization (ELGA), respond, as stated in their announcement by the two ministries, to the needs of the rural farmers affected by the summer fires. activate the special procedure for their subsidy for damage to plant media.

Thus, the Government “supports with its decisions, with special social sensitivity, our farmers-producers and justifies their expectations for the help of the state in a period of severe ordeal”.

In particular, with a recent legislative initiative, a new article was introduced in law 4797/2021 on state aid, establishing a special procedure for subsidizing agricultural holdings for damage to crop production – such as arboriculture and vines – which are not covered by the Insurance Regulation. crop production of ELGA. At the same time, especially in cases of natural disasters with significant and extensive damage, the possibility of advance payment against this grant is provided, which is based on initial estimates from the available data of ELGA, for the immediate support of the affected agricultural holdings. The process is activated upon the recommendation of the Government Committee on State Aid under the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister, Responsible for State Aid and Natural Disaster Recovery.

The new procedure is adapted to the specifics of these damages, takes into account the data available from ELGA and is based on the experience and specialization of the executives of the Organization.

In this context, taking into account the extent and intensity of the summer fires and the damage caused to the crop production means, especially for the agricultural holdings affected by the big fires of the summer, the Ministers of Finance and Rural Development & Food accepted her suggestion. Governmental State Aid Committee and with their joint decision, which will be issued in the near future, the advance payment for damages to plant means of production will be determined, based on initial estimates of ELGA.

The initial assessment of the losses has been made on the basis of indications of agronomists-estimators and digital data available to ELGA, as well as on the basis of an initial assessment price, per type of perennial crop. According to the relevant suggestion of the Government Committee on State Aid, the price for the initial assessment of the damage amounts to the amount of 144 euros per olive tree and 2/3 of this price for other perennial crops.

It is reminded that especially for the summer fires the subsidy rate amounts to 70% of the estimated damage, therefore the victims will immediately receive about 50% of the final eligible subsidy. As a result, those affected will immediately receive about 50.4 euros per olive tree and 33.6 euros per tree for other perennial crops, through the advance payment process.

Please note that:

-The advance of the grant will be calculated on the basis of the available data of ELGA and the above initial assessment, while it will be specialized per agricultural holding based on the data submitted to the Integrated Control Management System (IACS).

Beneficiaries in this phase are the farmers by profession who have submitted the declaration of single aid to the Integrated Control Management System and have fulfilled the obligation to pay the special insurance contribution to ELGA. In the next phase, the relevant procedure will be activated for the non-main farmers, who, however, meet the above conditions.

-The assessment and recording of the losses and the collection of the required data is carried out by ELGA and not by the state aid committees of the Region, which – in terms of agricultural holdings – will be limited to the other assets that have been damaged.

-The advance payment of the grant will include the first aid granted to agricultural holdings through arogi.gov.gr.
The agricultural holdings should contact the ELGA correspondent for any clarifications.

In the next stage, according to the procedure provided by the special geotechnical procedures, will follow the final assessment of the damages, specialized per agricultural holding, based on autopsies and estimates of ELGA and based on final assessment price, per type of perennial crop and severity of the damage. On the basis of this final assessment, the final subsidy of the agricultural holdings for the damages to the crop means of production will be determined, in which the granted advance will be taken into account.

The Government and the relevant Ministries and agencies continue to provide practical support to those affected by the recent fires, closely monitoring developments and needs in each sector and intervening with the necessary initiatives and adjustments where necessary, to effectively support those affected, local economy and society.