On the occasion of the recent gathering of potato growers in Sotira (Monday, 12/3) and the statements and positions that followed, both in the TV news bulletins and in the daily press, OGA notes that "it is the right of any producer to raise issues that "and point out that in terms of losses this year," extensive damage has been observed in all potato growing areas, and from the outset the losses have been reviewed by the Agency's executive team. " .
In fact, OGA states that at the moment all the potential of the Organization is attributed to intensive assessments in all the affected areas and that the damages due to the covered causes, frost, hail and flood, are recorded and will be compensated normally.
Regarding the position that "OGA appraisers are strict with producers, because they want to save money on their salaries", OGA claims that this position, in addition to being excessive, is completely unfounded, explaining that In the OGA funds there is a respectable reserve of more than 10 million euros and which is sufficient to compensate any damage, without depriving the beneficiary potato growers of even one euro.
"The OGA fund is separate from the state funds, and is not affected by the general budgetary capacity of the State. The creation of this issue is clearly due to misinformation ", he adds.
In the position that "OGA only collects from potato growers and does not pay anything". The Agency replies that so far € 46 million has been given as compensation for potato growing, compared to just € 23 million paid by potato growers as insurance premiums.
Regarding the position for the potato growers to leave the OGA, and the conversion of the OGA plan into an optional one, the OGA argues that this will mean the end of the agricultural insurance of the potatoes, stating in addition, that as provided in the National Framework "Any weather phenomenon for which an insurance plan has been prepared and offered and which has not been implemented through the fault of the state may not be included in the state aid program".
"Consequently, with their possible exit from the OGA insurance plan, potato growers are deprived of any right to compensation for the specific causes," he explains.
Finally, OGA states that it remains committed to the best possible support of the producers, through the possibilities provided by its legislation, reminding that it has proposed for amendment by the Parliament an amending legislation, which includes the inclusion of rain and strong wind in the potato insurance plan, as well as the improvement of the frost compensation rate from 70% to 80%.
"We are always at the disposal of potato growers to discuss anything that concerns them, and to look for ways to make the OGA insurance plan more remunerative and beneficial for them," the OGA statement concludes.
