Hundreds of farmers, livestock breeders, and beekeepers from across Greece will stage a nationwide protest in Athens on Tuesday, demanding immediate government action to address mounting economic hardship and delayed payments that they say threaten their livelihoods.
The demonstrators will gather first at Karaiskaki Square before marching to the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, where they will hold a rally at noon. Protesters also plan to deliver a petition of demands to ministry officials and to the Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid (OPEKEPE) — the body responsible for distributing agricultural subsidies.
Police have implemented traffic regulations along key streets including Karolou, Marni, Acharnon, Liosion, and Domokou, as well as adjacent roads, to manage the flow of vehicles during the protest. Officers will remain on site throughout the event to maintain order.
Dimitris Kampouris, former vice president of the Panhellenic Livestock Association of Chalkida, described the demonstrations as a “sacred struggle for our survival,” emphasizing the urgency for government action. He confirmed that farmers have a scheduled meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Christos Chatzidakis, later in the day to present their written requests.
“This is not just a protest, it’s a fight for survival,” Kampouris said. “People have reached their limits. The money owed to us from last year and now must be paid immediately, or we won’t make it through the winter.”
Demands for Payments and Support
The protest is organized by the National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (ETHEAS) and local farming associations, following an open meeting in Athens on October 23. Participants are calling for:
- The immediate release of all payments and compensations, without delays or exclusions.
- Targeted support measures for livestock breeders affected by the recent sheep pox outbreak.
“The primary sector is collapsing,” the organizers said in a joint statement. “The long-standing problems of farmers and livestock producers are not being solved — they are getting worse. The government either cannot or will not provide the necessary support.”
Beekeepers Join the Protest
The Greek Federation of Beekeeping Associations also called on its members to join the protest, saying that the government’s payment freeze, bureaucratic delays, and lack of consultation affect the entire primary production sector.
In a public statement, the federation said:
“The scandal surrounding OPEKEPE affects everyone. The lack of dialogue between the government and producers has led to an agricultural policy that harms both farmers and consumers.”
Beekeepers, who are considered an integral part of Greece’s agricultural system, argue that the state has failed to recognize the environmental and economic importance of their work.
Growing Frustration in the Countryside
Farmers from Crete also joined the nationwide protest, with associations from Ierapetra, Sitia, Tympaki, and Kantanos-Selino accusing the government of deliberately downplaying the crisis. They argue that while Athens promises reforms, the burden of systemic inefficiency continues to fall on those producing the nation’s food.
“The state pretends to solve problems it has no intention of fixing,” their joint statement read. “The real culprits remain untouched, while farmers bear the cost.”
They also pointed to water shortages, rising production costs, and the lack of seasonal workers as key issues that continue to be ignored.
Broader Discontent Across the Sector
Tuesday’s rally marks the start of what unions describe as a series of regional and national mobilizations this month. Agricultural groups say that without immediate government action, Greece risks deeper instability in the primary sector — a cornerstone of the country’s economy and rural identity.
As one protester in Athens put it: “We feed the country, but no one is feeding us.”
