Hope for tobacco farmers in Rhodope: MP Ferhat's efforts begin to bear fruit
A glimmer of hope has emerged for tobacco farmers in Greece’s Rhodope region as Member of Parliament Özgür Ferhat announced that his political efforts with the Ministry of Agriculture are beginning to yield tangible results.
Ferhat, an MP from the New Left Party representing Rhodope, emphasized that producers in the region must not be excluded from key support programs — particularly the Metro 2023 subsidy initiative. “This marks an important step for our tobacco farmers in Rhodope,” he stated.
In recent months, Ferhat held meetings with Minister of Agriculture Kostas Tsiaras and the former Deputy Minister Dionisis Stamenitis, and submitted multiple parliamentary questions advocating for the inclusion of Rhodope tobacco producers in national agricultural support schemes.
Rhodope Tobacco Likely to Be Included in Metro 23 Program
According to sources within the Ministry, Ferhat reported that Rhodope tobacco is now likely to be included in the Metro 23 agricultural support program. However, he cautioned that the recent OPEKEPE scandal — a major shake-up within the agricultural payments organization — could affect the final decision.
“If the support is granted, one of our key demands will have been met. But if the ministry backs down, we will not hesitate to respond with the strongest possible political reaction,” Ferhat warned.
Unless there is a significant shift in policy, applications for the program are expected to begin in the coming months. Ferhat also stated that he will continue to request official documentation regarding the developments and will keep local producers informed.
