In Larissa, Greece, apple and chestnut producers organized a tractor rally in the central square of Agia, voicing their grievances over unmet compensation promises following the floods caused by storms Daniel and Elias last year. The rally, coordinated by the United Federation of Agricultural Associations of the Prefecture of Larissa alongside the Agricultural Associations and Cooperatives of Agia, aimed to press for full compensation for the damages to apple and chestnut crops, a definitive payment schedule, and the publication of findings regarding recent hailstorm and frost impacts on cherries and other produce, which remain undisclosed by the Hellenic Agricultural Insurance Organization.
The United Federation stated, "The farmers of Agia, who saw their production destroyed and have a reduced income, have no other income apart from the compensations that have been given to all the affected farmers of Thessaly except for those from Agia [Larissa]." They highlighted the urgency of the situation by mentioning a deadline given to the Ministry of Rural Development for announcing compensation details, which has not been met. According to their calculations, the compensation should amount to 940 euros per hectare for apples and 495 euros per hectare for chestnuts.
September 2023's storms Daniel and Elias led to significant agricultural losses in Thessaly, with submerged crops and livestock casualties. Despite the Hellenic Agricultural Insurance Organization's announcement of 270.2 million euros in compensation, with an expected rise to 310 million euros, farmers argue that the government's response has been inadequate, covering only about 70% of the actual damages. This incident underscores the broader challenges faced by European farmers due to climate change, including increased temperatures, droughts, and floods, which exacerbate the financial instability caused by extreme weather events.
Source: tovima