New parliamentary question on milk production discrepancies and delays in organic farming payments
MP for Xanthi and Agricultural Policy Spokesperson for the New Left party, Hüseyin Zeybek, has submitted a new parliamentary question to the Minister of Rural Development and Food, addressing discrepancies in sheep and goat milk production figures and delays in payments for organic livestock farming.
Zeybek refers to recent statements by the Minister, noting that average milk production per animal in Greece appears significantly lower than internationally recorded averages for crossbred and purebred animals. He also reminds that the New Left had raised the issue in Parliament back in September 2024 (question protocol number 6993/349/24-09-2024).
In its response at the time, the Ministry acknowledged that part of the milk production never reaches dairy processors, remaining instead within farm holdings. However, in more recent remarks, the Minister linked these discrepancies to the need for increased oversight, citing them as a reason for delays in subsidy payments, particularly in organic livestock and beekeeping sectors.
In his latest inquiry, Zeybek poses the following key questions to the Minister:
- How are the discrepancies in milk production per animal and per region being assessed?
- What are the corresponding figures for the year 2024, including the number of declared animals per region?
- What actions have been taken to cross-check declarations since the submission of the September 2024 question?
- Why were the necessary inspections for organic livestock farming not conducted in a timely manner?
- When is the completion of inspections and the disbursement of payments to eligible recipients expected?
The issue has sparked renewed concerns among farmers and cooperatives, as delays in organic subsidy payments impact both planning and sustainability in the sector.
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