Greek farmers, livestock breeders demand stronger state support

Protesters urge faster subsidy distribution and more aid to offset losses and rising costs.

ATHENS, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of farmers and livestock breeders staged demonstrations across Greece on Tuesday, urging the government to provide stronger financial support to the country's primary production sector.

In Athens, union representatives from across the country gathered outside the Ministry of Rural Development and Food in a rally organized by the National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives.

Carrying banners and chanting slogans such as "No farmers, no food, no future," protesters called for faster distribution of subsidies and compensation for losses caused by natural disasters and livestock diseases.

Farmers also requested additional assistance to cope with rising production costs and the impact of a recent sheep and goat pox outbreak, which led to the culling of about 400,000 animals nationwide this year.

Dimitra Balamouti, a livestock breeder who joined the protest in Athens, voiced his disappointment: "They gave me 34,000 euros (about 39,350 U.S. dollars) in compensation after losing 240 animals, but that is not enough. Each animal was worth nearly 500 euros."

"The situation is chaotic. We need decisive action from the state," Yannis Koukounis, another protesting breeder, said to Xinhua.

According to organizers, similar demonstrations took place in several other major cities, as producers warned that without adequate support, the viability of Greece's agricultural sector is at risk. (1 euro = 1.16 U.S. dollar)