The Greek government will devote 500,000 euros to help promote and advertise mastic gum products, in a bid to support producers devastated by a fire that swept the island of Chios in the last few days, Rural Development and Foods Minister Vangelis Apostolou told the ANA on Tuesday.
Apostolou noted the competitive potential of mastic gum cultivation, which is endemic to Chios, and said that the government places emphasis on this as one of the key tools for bringing income to the island.
Talking to the agency, the minister said the money will be given in the next 3-5 days, along with money to be spent on storehouses and refrigerators for the mastic gum producers union.
After visiting the island, Apostolou said the fire had struck many places already burned in 2012, while it had left an area of 2500-3000 hectares entirely bare of vegetation, causing damage to mastic gum orchards and other crops. He said the government would explore ways to compensate farmers for the loss of income and plant capital, applying for assistance from the European Commission’s Solidarity Fund or through state support. He also noted the need to take measures to protect the environment in the fire-stricken areas, with anti-flooding protection and other steps.
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