Özgür Ferhat calls for emergency support for farmers

Rhodope New Left Party MP Özgür Ferhat has called for urgent support for farmers in Rodopi affected by drought and extreme weather conditions.

Submitting a parliamentary question, Ferhat highlighted several key issues:

Tobacco Production:
Due to a lack of irrigation and ongoing drought, tobacco farmers have suffered up to 30% losses in production.
Farmers are struggling with rising production costs, while tobacco prices have remained stagnant for years.
Water Crisis:
Drying wells and the failure of the Cambaz (Neo Sidirihori) reservoir and Sofular (Askite) dam have exacerbated the water shortage.
The Yassıhöyük dam remains unused, worsening the crisis.
Support Payments:
Financial aid for tobacco producers has decreased by 90% since 2006, failing to keep up with rising costs.
Referring to Agriculture Minister Kostas Tsiaras' statement about seeking solutions for cotton producers, Özgür Ferhat outlined key demands:

1. Immediate financial aid for Rodopi tobacco farmers, considering declining production and increasing costs.
2. Support for vegetable growers and beekeepers to compensate for losses due to drought and extreme weather conditions.
3. Fair distribution of EU funds to ensure all producers receive aid, regardless of crop type.
4. Implementation of emergency financial support programs, such as the de minimis scheme, to assist farmers suffering from drought-related losses.
5. Long-term solutions to address water shortages.

Agriculture remains a pillar of the Rodopi economy, and supporting farmers is crucial to maintaining social stability in the region. The government must stand by its farmers, meet their urgent needs, and take swift action to ensure the sustainability of agricultural production.