STAYING AT HOME for farmers means STAYING ON OUR LAND
29.03.2021
Written by Vassilis Gounaris
Managing Director BASF Hellas
The unprecedented conditions that almost the entire world is experiencing, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, have already had enormous impacts on everyone's economy, society and everyday life. Our personal as well as our professional lives have changed in a very short period of time and we have been called to deal with challenges that we had never imagined we would have to deal with.
But the feeling that time has stopped is not the reality. On the contrary, for both ourselves and for all those involved with Greek agriculture, time is running faster. All of us together are the links in the food chain and it is important to stay connected and 100% active so that this chain does not break.
Given that protecting and feeding people in uncertain times is of the utmost importance, we are committed to supporting, in every way possible, all producers and those who work continuously to ensure the availability of our food. We make use of our experience, technology, high quality services and of course our people to help make the production process easier. Under no circumstances should crops be lost because this automatically would result in the loss of food. In no case should farming be stopped and the local market and supply chain must be strengthened in every possible way.
No one should have to feel alone in these difficult times. We may not be able to join the producers on the field or be on the side of our physical partners but we can use our digital media to stay in touch. In this context, we are already preparing a new digital platform called STAY CONNECTED. This way we can give advice and recommendations and solve any query that may arise with the sole aim of supporting crops and production. The digital bridge of communication is needed today more than ever.
Perhaps this bad juncture may become a reason for investing in digital agriculture. Innovative digital tools are available on the market, free of charge, which can be valuable aids to agronomists and farmers. We are always available to educate and empower users as well as to resolve any queries.
Another challenge in these difficult times we are going through are the people who assist in the cultivation process, that is the manpower. Traffic has been paralyzed almost everywhere and there are fears of even more restrictions due to the extraordinary precautionary and protective measures that have been imposed in all countries to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
But with no manpower, crops will be lost. I am referring to crops that will never be harvested and will never reach the consumer. We need to find ways to ensure manpower and obviously to provide those workers with safety, hygiene, and dignity.
But if all goes well, which we hope, the normalization of the tourist season in the second half will result in a combination of labour shortage and high demand for fruit and vegetables. This combination is a difficult equation and requires strategic crisis management plans for extreme circumstances. Stocks of olive oil and wine are likely to increase temporarily while at the same time there will be an increase in demand for wheat and rice.
However, throughout this difficult and particularly stressful period, it is worth referring to the positive and reassuring measures announced by the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Mr Makis Voridis, concerning the targeted support for farmers affected by this crisis. Indicatively, I mention the farmer card, activities in Activity Code Numbers, the suspension of the Integrated Administration and Control System, the Rural Development Programme measures, de minimis State aid, and more. At this time, measures are more necessary than ever, but they should be sufficiently organised and within reason, in line with the approach and intent of the Ministry.
Each crisis creates opportunities and offers the possibility for rectifying social ills and weaknesses, redefining your strategy, and investing in innovation. In the case of Greek agriculture, these difficult circumstances offer the opportunity for a genuine and meaningful “restart” to prime us for the future. STAYING AT HOME for farmers means STAYING ON OUR LAND.
In closing, we would like to thank both agronomists and farmers for ensuring a steady supply of food during these difficult times, and we want to urge you to support Greek farmers and demonstrate the significance and necessity of Greek agriculture to the general public.
