Greek Deputy Minister responds to Tobacco Producers’ concerns in Rhodope
Rodopi MP Ferhat Ozgür, a member of the New Left Parliamentary Group, submitted a question in Parliament to the Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food, Ioannis Andrianos, regarding the significant losses faced by tobacco producers in Rhodope in recent years.
During his address, MP Ozgür highlighted that in 2024, prolonged heat, drought, plant diseases, and infestations by the tobacco leafworm severely affected tobacco production. He noted that although reports from the Rodopi Directorate of Agriculture identified drought as the main cause of damage, tobacco production was not included in Measure 23, which he described as unjustified.
Ozgür also cited the September 2025 report from the Rhodope Directorate of Agriculture and Livestock, which recorded yield losses of up to 100% in some areas due to plant diseases, noting that no significant interventions had been made by the Ministry. He added that neighboring countries such as Bulgaria and Romania provide substantial national support to their tobacco producers, while Greek farmers have not received similar assistance.
He stressed that tobacco cultivation areas have declined from 60,000 stremmata in 2018 to just 20,000, placing production at risk of near extinction. Ozgür also highlighted the growing debts of farmers to electricity companies and called on the government to take immediate action to protect producers.
Deputy Minister’s Response
Deputy Minister Ioannis Andrianos replied that Measure 23 under the Rural Development Program does not cover tobacco, as the primary cause of damage—infestation by the tobacco leafworm—is not an eligible case for the program.
He added that for 2025, new support measures, either in the form of “de minimis” aid or through national resources, will be evaluated starting in the new year. Andrianos also announced a new regulation for agricultural debts to electricity providers, allowing farmers to restructure their debts interest-free.
This response provides a framework for potential government assistance to tobacco producers while addressing longstanding concerns about crop losses and financial sustainability in Rhodope.
