Agricultural departments are established in the Chambers – How Achaean farmers see the development

A series of innovations are included in the bill of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, which within the next few days is expected to be submitted to public consultation and in the following weeks will be debated and voted on in the Parliament.

It foresees, among other things, the creation of Agricultural Departments within the Chambers, a reform that will open the door to approximately 500,000 professional farmers and breeders.

The aim of the establishment of the agricultural departments in the Chambers of the whole country is to strengthen the agricultural sector through innovative practices, so that the plant and animal capital can keep up with the purchasing requirements of the times.

Farmers will be able to be supported through advisory centers to follow the proper promotion of their products, both domestically and abroad.

At the same time, through the registration of farmers in the respective Departments of the Chambers, it will become clear who and how many are, finally, the main profession of farmers and how the State should invest more in them.

However, agricultural trade unionists are cautious about the upcoming reforms. The president of the National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives and the Kalavryta Union, Pavlos Satoliastold “Peloponnisos” that he is waiting for the regulations to be made public and the consultation to take place.

“We are not initially opposed, but we want to see how the provision for the cooperatives will be formulated, because the National Association of Agricultural Cooperatives is a body that currently represents the producers.

We also want to see if contributions are foreseen and if they will be mandatory, what kind of reciprocity and what representativeness we will have. We don’t want to be co-conspirators and at the same time contribute millions of euros to the Chambers’ income. In any case, we believe that the entry of farmers to the Chambers should be done voluntarily and not be mandatory” said Pavlos Satolias.

The president of the Agricultural Association of Aigios, Yiannis Bodiotis he appeared even more cautious, as he believes that the entry of farmers into the Chambers will work against the farmers. He expressed the appreciation that some levy will be provided, as is done with all the members of the Chambers and that the farmers will not accept anything that is at the expense of their income.