Farmers in Greece escalated their centrally organized massive protests. Starting with small, scattered mobilizations all over Greece, they escalated their actions last week, with farmers from across the agricultural region of Thessalia forming, despite police violence, the two largest tractor camps so far at junctions along highway sides and calling for further escalation of the struggle.
There were already some tractor camps set up in northern Greece, but the tractor camps in Thessalia were always the most dynamic and radical in the Greek farmers' movement. Their setup was echoed by the strengthening of the already existing camps, and the establishment of new ones in more areas, while these days farmer unions across Greece organize assemblies to discuss further mobilizations.
Among various local and central demands, farmers are calling for immediate compensation for lost agricultural income, tax-free fuel, a cap on electricity at 7 cents/kwh, subsidies for fertilizers, agricultural supplies, and animal feed, reform of compensation regulations to cover 100% of damages to agricultural assets and production, minimum prices for each product, and the withdrawal of the EU-Mercosur agreement which favors imports.
Concerning apple growers, a large part of whom are located in Thessalia, they are frustrated with delivering their crop and getting paid months later at prices that do not cover production costs. This season's cost is estimated at 0,40-0,45 euros/kg, but growers denounce that they have received no more than 0,25 euros/kg.
Mr. Rizos Maroudas, president of the Association of Farmers' Unions of Larisa, which has formed one of the two big tractor camps in Thessalia, says: "This year's tractor camp in Larissa is bigger than last year's, with more tractors taking part here, as our problems have worsened. We are not afraid of the police violence. We call on farmers all over Greece to strengthen their own tractor camps and set up more. We are going to fight hard, but we will win."
The tractor camp in Larisa has been set up with fruit growers also coming from Tirnavos. Tirnavos is the main pear-growing region of Greece, with crops suffering losses due to diseases and natural disasters for many years now. Among these growers is Mr. Stelios Tsikritsis, a grower himself and the mayor of Tirnavos. "There is record participation of tractors from Tirnavos in the protests. There are 250 tractors at this camp," stresses Mr. Tsikritsis.