Hüseyin Zeybek criticizes delay in Young Farmers Program
İskeçe MP Hüseyin Zeybek has raised concerns in parliament over a nearly 19-month delay in the evaluation of applications submitted under Greece's "Young Farmers" support program, arguing that thousands of applicants remain in uncertainty despite having applied in 2024.
In a parliamentary question addressed to the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Zeybek described the P3-75.1 program, titled "Integration of Young Farmers into Agricultural Production," as a key policy tool for renewing the agricultural workforce and encouraging young people to remain in rural areas.
According to Zeybek, many applicants made investments, leased farmland, purchased equipment and assumed financial obligations in anticipation of being accepted into the program. However, the prolonged delay in announcing final results and disbursing support payments has left many young producers facing financial difficulties.
The lawmaker recalled that the ministry had previously informed parliament that the primary evaluation process had been completed, but finalization required a technical connection between the Integrated Administration and Control System (OSDE) and the Integrated Information System for State Aid (OPSKE) to determine the Standard Output Value of agricultural holdings.
Zeybek argued that continued postponements caused by administrative and technical issues are unacceptable, particularly in agricultural regions such as İskeçe and Western Thrace, where young people already face significant economic challenges.
He warned that prolonged uncertainty could discourage young people from remaining in agriculture, undermine confidence in rural development programs and accelerate migration from rural communities to larger cities and abroad.
Zeybek asked the ministry to clarify the reasons behind the delay, provide updated information on the status of applications in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, indicate when final results will be announced and specify the timetable for the first installment of financial support.
