13.1.13
The initiative of Imathia peach producers from the Kouloura road block to meet with the political leadership of the Ministry of Agricultural Growth was not only fruitless, but has also caused a rift in opinion amongst other farmers.
The peach producers are demanding that they be paid immediately by the 16 manufacturers who received 400,000 tons of peaches. So far, only two manufacturers have begun paying for their share of 70 to 80 thousand tones. The peach producers have suggested the creation of a register of agricultural product traders, in order to regulate transactions.
Deputy Minister of Agricultural Growth M. Harakopoulos claimed that the register will “set clear rules in transactions amongst producers and traders, to avoid recent phenomena, such as great delays in paying producers”. The Minister of Agricultural Growth A. Tsaftaris stated on Vima 99.5 that he “complies with reverence the promises made to farmers”.
The move of the peach producers, to negotiate independently with the Ministry for their local issues, was viewed as a divisive one. A member of the nationwide Farmer Coordination Committee, representing roadblocks all over Greece, claimed that because of peach farmer’s move the committee has withdrawn its support from the Initiative for the Reform of the Farmer Union Issue. Only the Imathia and Crete roadblocks remain with the Initiative.
