September 19, 2024

Athens News

News in English from Greece

Farmer Throws Six Tons of Green Olives Out on the Street


Six tons of olives were thrown onto the road by a producer from Eleochoria in Chalkidiki, expressing outrage at this year's humiliating prices.

The producer turned over boxes in a desperate attempt to get his voice heard and mobilize the relevant departments.

The situation is especially difficult for olive producersas this year added to the series of difficulties that began with last year's crop failure. Production costs this year, including increased spending on fertilizers, fuel and laborhave grown to a level that makes production unsustainable.

Mr. Efstratios Kyriaklis explained to reporters what prompted him to do this with the olive harvest: “I did this because we received a price list where the purchase price for olives starts at 1.50 euros per kilo. We can’t grow olives for 1.50 euros! Fertilizers are expensive. This year I used about 2 tons, and their cost is 50 euros per kilo. We also have to take into account the cost of water and labor. Now I have about 120 tons of olives, and I gave away 40, which the trader took in category 4-5, which means I will be paid 1.05 euros per kilo! Last year they set the price at 2 euros. I gave 20 tons from the same hundred square meters, and this year I intended to give 120 tons with the prospect that the price would be raised, and it would start at least at 1.90 euros. Do you understand what I'm talking about?!“.

Olive producers see that product prices are falling to historically low levels, while costs continue to rise without adequate support from the state. The farmer's protest is a voice of desperation and the need for immediate action, as many agricultural producers are confident that in Under such conditions they will not be able to survive financially.

Olive producers warn that unless there is significant government intervention, they will begin a more dynamic mobilization in the coming weeks.



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