Spilios Livanos: The digitization of ELGA is a decisive leap towards the future – It makes damage assessment faster and more accurate –
In the presence of the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Mr. Spilios Livanos, signed the Programme Contract between EL.G.A. and the Information Society S.A. for the implementation of the Project “Digital Application Estimation Process ELGA”.
With the implementation of the project, as Mr. Livanos, “the EL.G.A. will pay in one payment, in one instalment, in full, at 100%, the compensation due for the first time”, and even accelerating the assessment of damages”.
The project total budget of 1,850,000 euros, is part of the current NSRF 2014-2020 and is the product of the collaboration between the ELGA, the Ministry of Digital Governance and the Ministry of Rural Development.
It was included by decision of the Ministry of Digital Governance in the 17th Implementation Specification Update of the Operational Programme (Public Sector Reform) in October 2020.
It estimates the development of software in a three-year plan and the provision of tablets and laptops to the branches of EL.G.A. to facilitate their assessment work.
Using a mobile app, the EL.G.A.’s appraiser will access the parcel of land to be appraised and, using a mobile device (tablet), will have access via the internet to all available data of the affected farmer, in order to complete the appraisal process quickly and without fail.
In this way, the assessment process is being transformed thanks to digital technology, with the aim of immediate and faster assessment of losses by the EL.G.A.’s assessors with accuracy and fairness.
At the signing ceremony the Minister Mr. Livanos stressed that with the project“Digital Application of ELGA’s Estimation Process”, the Organization “makes a decisive leap towards the future”.
Referring to the policy pursued by ELGA, he noted that it offers a protection net to producers, while making special reference to the government’s decisions to support producers at a time when the effects of the health crisis are hitting the economy and natural disasters have intensified. At the same time, he congratulated the efficiency of the President of the Organization, Mr. Andreas Lykourentzos and the administration, which proved that indeed ELGA can be the farmer’s natural ally.
Mr. Livanos made special reference to the support provided by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to achieve the financial stability of ELGA in order to pay its obligations without delay and referred to the significant contribution of the Organization in cases of natural disasters in Evia, the Mediterranean cyclone “Ianos”, in Crete, Serres, Rhodope and Evros.
As committed “the government this year will pay 30 million euros to EL.G.A., to cover its administrative and operating costs, so that the entire amount of the special insurance contribution collected will be paid for compensation.”
The President of ELGA Mr. Andreas Lykourentzos thanked the contributors of the project and stressed that with the digitization of the Agency ”we will be able to support the farmer when he is in need and tested after any catastrophic damage to his production”.
As Mr. Lykourentzos mentioned, “The next goal is within 2021 to achieve the necessary reforms and changes in the Organization, so that at the end of the year the ELGA is a modern, dynamic, solvent, reliable and effective Organization”
The CEO of “Information Society S.A.”, Mr. Stavros Asthenidis pointed out that ”the Programme Agreement with the Hellenic Agricultural Insurance Organisation (ELGA) for the project of the Digital Application of the Valuation Process, is another important step towards the substantial transition of the agricultural production sector, one of the main pillars of the Greek economy, to the digital era.
The intervention of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Spilios Livanos during the signing of the programme contract
“I want to wish everyone a happy and healthy new year.
This is a year of increased responsibilities for everyone due to the consequences of the unprecedented health crisis. Even more so in the context of this difficult period, Greek producers need our support, since natural disasters due to climate change are becoming more frequent.
Our Government, fully aware of this difficult situation, is pursuing an outward-looking policy with an eye on international markets. The implementation of our Government’s reform plan is proceeding rapidly with the health crisis not only not acting as a hindrance but instead as an accelerator.
As a result, our country’s credibility is steadily increasing, which is reflected in the ever-increasing investment interest and significant investments being made.
In this context, our goal is to make the agri-food sector a pole of attraction for investment.
Utilizing in every way the comparative advantages we have as a country and making the primary sector more attractive and efficient by using technology and linking it to research and other sectors of the economy, such as tourism.
To implement our policy we are moving along two axes:
First are policies and decisions that create opportunities and incentives for rural development.
Second is the protection grid that must exist around agricultural production because of the sector’s specificities, which affect production and the basis of rural income.
This is precisely the protection net that ELGA offers.
And here I will allow me to congratulate the President of ELGA, Andreas Lykouredzo, a friend and old colleague, for the important work he has produced during his time as President of ELGA, as his period of administration has been distinguished for its immediacy, efficiency and economy of the Organization’s finances.
But let me also refer to the support of the Government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to ELGA.
By demonstrating its support in practice, it has contributed to the financial stability of the Agency, so that it can immediately fulfil its obligations without delays, without postponements.
It did so from August 2020 onwards to deal with the devastating consequences of the natural disasters in Evia, the Mediterranean cyclone “Janos”, in Crete and now in Serres, Rhodope and Evros.
The Government’s support policy continues for the year 2021. This year it will pay 30 million euros to EL.G.A., as shown by the State Budget, to cover its administrative and operating costs, so that the entire amount of the special insurance contribution collected will be paid for compensation.
Today, I would like to take advantage of my presence here to inform the farmers of our country that in the year 2021, the ELGA will pay in one payment, in one instalment, in full, 100%, the compensation due for the first time, as all the previous period the compensation was paid in instalments and the inconvenience was a given.
Today, but, ladies and gentlemen, we are here on an important, historic, I would say, day for ELGA. Today ELGA is taking a decisive step towards the future. It enters the digital era with the implementation of the project “Digital Application of the ELGA Estimation Process”. Utilising new technology, it enables the fastest possible on-the-spot – accurate and fair – assessment of damage to crops and livestock. With the development of software and the availability of tablets and laptops at ELGA branches, the assessment work will be facilitated and accelerated and failures will be avoided.
With the cooperation of ELGA and the Information Society very soon we will have the desired results and I hope within the year to complete the relevant procedures.
As Minister of Rural Development and Food, I am particularly pleased with this spectacular development, as I have set as a key priority of our strategy the transition of the Ministry and its agencies to the new digital era.
In closing, I once again wish you Health and Happiness in fulfilling your demanding duties. And I commit that I will make every effort to ensure that we have a smooth and creative cooperation.”
Points of Speech by the President of ELGA, Andreas Th. Lykourentzos
“From the first day of taking office as the new EL.G.A. administration we set two goals:
First, the modernization of the Agency and its immediate transition to the digital era, so that we can fulfil our work with speed, reliability and solvency. To be able to support the farmer when he is in need and tested after any catastrophic damage to his production.
Second, to achieve financial stability for the Agency so that it can meet its obligations without delays and without being obliged to pay in instalments the compensation due.
With the support of the Government of the Prime Minister, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotsakis, the Ministers, Mr. Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Mr. Christos Staikouras, Mr. Theodoros Skylakakias, Mr. Makis Varidis and now Mr. Spilios Livanos these two objectives have been achieved.
I thank the Prime Minister of the country for his decisive support to EL.G.A. Both in the issue of financing administrative and operational costs and in addressing the consequences of the natural disasters, which occurred from the summer of 2020 until recently, and I mean the damage in Evia, the Mediterranean cyclone “Ioanos”, the rainfall in Crete, Serres, Rhodope and Evros, because, by its own decisions, the Agency was allocated the necessary funds from the country’s reserve for the timely payment of compensation to farmers in the affected areas.
Thank you to those who toiled for the planning and preparation of the project: “Digital Application of Valuation Process EL.G.A.” with a total budget of EUR 1.850.000, the Director Mr. Konstantinos Champidis
and the colleagues of the staff of the Minister Mr. Pierrakakis, thanks the management and employees of EL.G.A. who worked with them and finally thank the Director General, the Directors, the executives and employees of EL.G.A. for our efficient cooperation in the past year.
The next goal is within 2021 to achieve the necessary reforms and changes in the Organization, so that at the end of the year the ELGA is a modern, dynamic, solvent, reliable and effective Organization.
Points from the speech of the CEO of “Information Society S.A.”, Mr. Stavros Asthenidis,
“The adoption and utilization of digital technologies is now a key parameter for increasing efficiency in all key sectors of the economy and ensuring reliability.
The Programmatic Agreement with the Hellenic Agricultural Insurance Organisation (ELGA) for the project of the Digital Appraisal Process Application is another important step towards the substantial transition of the agricultural production sector, one of the main pillars of the Greek economy, to the digital era.
The Information Society SA, in cooperation with the Ministry of Rural Development, ELGA and the Ministry of Digital Governance, will immediately take all necessary steps to ensure that the implementation of the project is successfully completed within the planned time frame.
Republished by the Ministry of Rural Development.
