“Acts for Macedonia”: “Indifference from the PKK to the collection of dead animals”

A question to the Region of Central Macedonia was submitted by the regional extension “Acts for Macedonia”.

The question concerns the lack of a dead animal management program from the Region of Central Macedonia, which was stopped from November 1, 2023, as stated in its text.

According to the statement issued by the faction, “the responsible deputy governor, on behalf of the administration, responded without … answering on the merits. He put the blame on the ND government and the poor planning of capital inflows from Europe. He omitted the great responsibilities of the Region of K.M., which did not ensure that it had the necessary amounts for the entire coverage period of the program for the livestock farmers of Central Macedonia.”

In detail what the regional extension “Actions for Macedonia” states in its announcement:

In the question submitted by our faction “Actions for Macedonia” on 09/04/2024, which concerns the interruption, from 01/11/2023, of the “collection and management of dead animals” program by the Region of Central Macedonia, the competent deputy governor , on behalf of the administration, responded without … answering on the merits. He put the blame on the ND government and the poor planning of capital inflows from Europe. He omitted the great responsibilities of the K.M. Region, which did not ensure that it had the necessary sums for the entire coverage period of the program for the livestock farmers of Central Macedonia, since 3,000,000 euros were absorbed in a shorter period of time than “expected” and , we are now waiting for… (!) an additional amount for five months and … we see…(!) to continue the program.
However, the problems for livestock farmers do not end, since from April 1, 2024 they are now required to pay an annual fee for the needs of the national program for the collection and management of dead animals, which will be collected through the e-receipt process and, at the same time , to pay for the collection themselves, as the program was discontinued !! That is, the complete mockery and mockery will continue, unknown for how long and the breeders will pay for a service they have not enjoyed for many months. And, of course, no mention of the return of the money they have paid, until now and will continue to pay those who had and will have dead animals, even though they had paid and are obliged to continue to pay, the special fee
We call on the government of the ND and the administration of the P.K.M (after all, they are “equals”) to take serious and timely decisions, in order to solve the big problem of collection and management of dead animals, to stop harming the livestock farmers and, furthermore, to avoid health hazards from the burial of dead animals in streams and ravines.

The text of the question

TO:
1. District Governor Mr. Apostolos Tzizikostas
2. Deputy Regional Governor for Agricultural Economy, Mr. Georgios Kefalas

Kilkis, 9/04/2024

SUBJECT: From November 1, 2023 without a program for the collection and management of dead animals from the Region of Central Macedonia.

From 5-7-2021 until November 2023, livestock farmers of all seven regional units of the Central Macedonia Region enjoyed the privilege of collecting and handling dead animals from their livestock units without incurring any costs, except to meet the contractual the obligations in relation to the competent services of the corresponding regional units.
Unfortunately, the above advantage from November 1, 2023 until today does not exist, as a result of this, an additional cost is added to the operational costs already imposed on the producers-breeders for the collection and management of dead animals that they are asked to cover with a direct contract to a private collection company and management of dead animals.
It should be noted that the fund of 3,000,000 euros has been completed and since then there has been no update, while at the same time there are health risks with the burial of animals in streams and ravines by reckless producers-breeders in order to avoid the highest cost of a contract with a private company.
Ask:
a) What actions have you taken to refinance the program and a new contract with a private company for the receipt and management of dead animals in livestock units given that the cost in small and medium units of a direct contract with a private company is unaffordable and often amounts to 500 euros/ tn.?
b) Do you intend to cover the costs with own funds of the Region of Central Macedonia?
c) Do you intend to retroactively compensate the farmers for the expenses they incurred from November 2023 until today and for what they will incur until the issue is resolved?
d) Given the long period of non-coverage of the serious needs of the breeders until today, what do you intend to do with the annual compensation fee for the management of dead animals that the breeders are required to pay from April 2024?