New intervention by MP Zeybek on İskeçe livestock farmers: “They remain abandoned”
Independent MP for İskeçe, Hüseyin Zeybek, has criticized the government for what he describes as the continued abandonment of livestock farmers in the region, following his recent parliamentary question to the Ministry of Rural Development and Food regarding discrepancies in livestock data.
According to Zeybek, the ministry failed to provide substantive answers to key questions concerning significant inconsistencies between official datasets on livestock numbers. He had requested clarification over a discrepancy exceeding 50 percent between figures recorded by the Ministry, which list 15.6 million sheep and goats, and those published by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), which record 10.3 million animals.
Zeybek argued that the government did not address any of the critical issues raised in his inquiry, including whether audits or verification procedures have been conducted to ensure data reliability.
“Farmers Remain Without Support”
The MP stated that while the government has failed to explain the existence of millions of additional livestock in official records compared to ELSTAT data, livestock farmers in İskeçe affected by a recent sheep and goat pox outbreak continue to face severe hardship.
He noted that many farmers have been unable to resume production for months and remain without stable income, while waiting for compensation and financial support they are entitled to receive.
Call for Transparency and Compensation
Zeybek emphasized that such discrepancies raise legitimate concerns about the distribution of both national and EU agricultural subsidies. He called for clear answers from the government, greater transparency in the management of agricultural funds, full payment of compensation to affected farmers, and support measures to help rebuild livestock populations in the region.
