Livestock breeders in the Regional Units of Western Greece (Achaia, Ilia and Aitoloakarnania) express concern over the daily raids of carnivorous animals on livestock.
In particular, very significant losses of livestock (goats, sheep, but also cattle) due to depredation by wild animals (mainly wolves, but also jackals) have been reported lately. In fact, during the summer, the phenomenon is more intense, as breeders move to summer mountain pastures, in order to take advantage of the natural flora to feed their animals.
Read also: Boars destroy harvests – Farmers in despair
After a meeting in Kakotari, the Deputy Regional Governor for Rural Development, Theodoros Vassilopoulos, with community presidents and livestock farmers from mountainous Ilia, sent a letter to the Ministry of Rural Development and the Hellenic Agricultural Compensation Organization (ELGA), requesting immediate measures.
“As it is obvious, during this period the animals are less protected against wild predators”, the letter points out, while underlining the fact that according to the Livestock Insurance Regulation provision is made for insurance coverage when the inability to damage to livestock is less than half an insurance unit, defined as 4 animals (goats and sheep over one year old). This limitation does not apply to the damage caused to sheep and goats by wolves and bears which are protected species , in which case the limit is set at an insurance value of the damaged animals greater than 200 euros (practically 2 adult goats and sheep).
The problem is now particularly acute in all the Regional Units of Western Greece (Achaia, Ilia and Aitoloakarnania) and causes great damage to livestock farmers, especially in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas, who – as pointed out – can within a year have losses of over 15 adult animals, without ever being compensated. “As you can understand, it is very difficult for a farmer in the particularly difficult economic situation to cover such loss from own resources,” it is noted.
At the same time, it is noted that it is difficult to explain on the basis of common sense the distinction between the compensation of animals that have been killed by protected species and those that have been killed by non-protected species, while in several cases, there is the issue of not finding the remains of the carcasses due to their depredation by wild boars.
Therefore, they recommend:
Especially for the compensation due to depredations of livestock by wild animals, the total and not the daily damage should be taken into account.
Equalize compensation for losses from protected and non-wild carnivores.
To increase the compensation rate to 100% in order to indirectly cover the damage from the limited cases of not finding the animal carcass.
Latest News
Europeche: Greek Apricot Production Recovers
Europeche forecasts the production will bounce back despite a slight decrease in varieties attributed to high winter temperatures
Bank of Greece (BoG): Business-Household Deposits Up 1,675bln in March 2024
In March 2024, the monthly net flow of credit to the general government was negative by 469 million euros
FT: Greece’s Economic Rebound a Balance of Growth and Poverty
Eurostat data revealed a significant 10.8% drop in Greek public debt relative to GDP in 2023, alongside a 2% economic expansion, outpacing Germany's performance.
Lavrio Port Authority Next Up for Privatization
A deadline for the submission of expressions of interest is May 14, 2024
Eurostat: Greece Records Largest Drop in Natural Gas Prices in 2nd Half of 2023
The price of electricity and natural gas in Europe was down following a substantial surge that began before the Russian invasion of Ukraine and peaked in 2022
GEK TERNA Still Considers Leveraging Concessions Portfolio as Financial Tool
President and CEO of Gek Terna George Peristeris explained the company's plans on Tuesday on the sidelines of the inauguration of sections of Greece's E65 highway
NielsenIQ: 3% Supermarket Revenue Increase in Q1
Private label products are gaining traction, comprising 25.4% of shopping basket shares, up from 24.7%
Store Hours Change Today in Observation of Orthodox Easter
The President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce hopes the Easter period will provide a much-needed boost to retail traffic in the capital
Athens-area Mass Transit Systems Set to Finally Install Contact-less Fare Payment
Paying fares via bank cards, smartphones and smartwatches in all mass transit systems in the Greek capital, namely, buses, trolleys, the metro and tram lines, is scheduled by the end of the year
Council of State Rejects Motion Against Thessaloniki Motorway Project
The motion was filed earlier this month by three local citizens’ and environmental groups and generated a high court decision for a temporary stay in construction