Local officials express support for Rhodope farmers
Local authorities have visited farmers from the Rhodope region who have been staging protests by blocking sections of the Egnatia Highway with their tractors, expressing solidarity with their demands.
Farmers across the country—who rely on agriculture for their livelihoods—have been organizing road blockades to protest rising production costs and declining purchase prices. Rhodope farmers, who have been demonstrating since Sunday, are seeking to draw the attention of the ruling New Democracy government to their worsening economic conditions.
On Tuesday, Deputy Regional Governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Rıdvan Molla İsa, Regional Governor’s Advisor Ahmet Osman Pehlivan, and Yassıköy Mayor Caner İmam visited the protest site to offer their support.
Speaking during the visit, Deputy Regional Governor Rıdvan Molla İsa emphasized the difficult conditions under which farmers are working, stating:
“Farmers across our country labor tirelessly on the land, yet they are burdened by the disappointment of not receiving the value they deserve. They say, ‘We work, but we are not the ones who benefit.’ Amid rising costs and uncertainties, their efforts are gradually being eroded. Yet the foundation of every meal on our tables is their production. Today we stand with them not only for their sake but for our shared future. Supporting our farmers’ labor means safeguarding our country’s tomorrow.”
Additionally, New Left Party Rhodope MP Özgür Ferhat and Deputy Regional Governor for Agriculture and Livestock Rıdvan Hacı Mehmet were among those who visited the protest site to show support.
