Hüseyin Zeybek: “Agricultural policies are pushing producers into a dead end”
Zeybek questioned the sincerity of the government’s proposal to establish a cross-party parliamentary committee on agriculture, stating that such initiatives lack credibility as long as existing policies continue to undermine producers’ livelihoods.
“Policies Ignore the Needs of Farmers”
According to Zeybek, the government’s approach to agriculture is detached from the realities faced by producers, with decisions often made without taking farmers’ demands into account. He warned that problems in the agricultural sector are deepening and that current policies are pushing producers into economic hardship.
Concerns Over the EU–Mercosur Agreement
Zeybek also criticized the EU–Mercosur trade agreement, stating that it was approved without sufficient information or consultation with farmers.
He argued that the agreement forces Greek producers to compete with countries operating under lower production and quality standards, while failing to adequately safeguard the balance between imports and exports in favor of Greek agricultural products.
Structural Problems and Rising Costs
Highlighting long-standing structural issues in the sector, Zeybek pointed to:
- Administrative weaknesses in the distribution of agricultural subsidies
- Insufficient market oversight and controls
- Rising production costs, which threaten the sustainability of farming and livestock activities
He also emphasized the growing impact of the climate crisis on agricultural production, calling for a comprehensive and coherent agricultural reform.
Call for Concrete Support Measures
Zeybek outlined several policy priorities to support the agricultural sector, including:
- Reducing production costs
- Lowering the tax burden on agricultural inputs
- Increasing incentives for young farmers
- Strengthening domestic agricultural production
He further stressed the importance of supporting agricultural cooperatives, reinforcing the agricultural insurance system, and developing a long-term strategy for rural development.
“An Economic and Social Issue”
Concluding his speech, Zeybek noted that the challenges facing agriculture are not only economic but also social, warning that ongoing uncertainty is driving producers out of the sector. He called on the government to implement concrete, effective and sustainable policies to restore confidence and secure the future of rural communities.
