Athens, Greece. Greek farmers drove dozens of tractors into central Athens on Friday to protest rising production costs and competition from abroad, saying government support offered so far was not enough to stay afloat.
Tractor protest reaches parliament
People lined up and applauded as tractors arrived in front of the parliament building. The farmers said they would stay overnight.
Farmers cite lack of funds ahead of planting
Stavros Kozoutzis, a farmer from Komotini in northern Greece, said the summer cultivation period was about to begin and farmers did not have the money to plant this year’s crops.
Government measures and farmers’ demands
Last month, farmers ended weeks of nationwide blockades over delayed farm aid payments. The Greek government has said it disbursed much of the overdue payments and announced cheaper fuel and cover for future output losses.
The head of the farmers’ union in Larissa said many farmers had not received full compensation for last year’s crop and livestock losses, adding that guaranteed minimum prices and investment in irrigation and infrastructure against future floods remained unmet demands.
“We are giving a battle for our survival. We left the blockades… but our fight continues as our main demands have not been satisfied,” Rizos Maroudas told public broadcaster ERT.
Animal disease outbreaks add pressure
The sector has also been hit by rolling outbreaks of sheep and goat pox, with hundreds of thousands of animals being culled since 2024.
Footage from local television showed veterinarians dressed in yellow uniforms spraying tractors with disinfectants before they reached Athens.
What further measures do you think would address farmers’ concerns about costs, compensation and future risks?
