Pelion chestnut producers demand compensation for crop damage

Chestnut producers in the Pelion region of Greece are organizing protests and seeking financial compensation following significant damage to their crops. The producers, represented by the Federation of Agricultural Associations of Magnesia and the Xourichti Agricultural Association, are calling for a gathering in Muresi to discuss next steps.

Agricultural experts and regional services are conducting inspections of the chestnut groves to document the extent of the damage. The issues stem from prolonged drought and high temperatures, which led to small fruit size and quality degradation, followed by heavy autumn rains that caused the chestnuts to split.

Local officials, including the Mayor of Zagora-Muresi and the Vice Governor of Magnesia, have met with the Ministry of Rural Development and Food to request economic support. While the Ministry is currently evaluating the requests and gathering data on the scale of the losses, no specific amount or timeline for compensation has been announced. Previous reports indicated that marketable chestnut production had already seen a decrease of more than 30% due to similar quality and quantity issues.