The realization of the 31st edition of Agrotica, the emblematic and largest agricultural fair in Greece, scheduled for 29/1 to 1/2/2026 in Thessaloniki, has been put into question after the massive pullout that major companies of agricultural machinery have started announcing. Up to now, 25 companies and one regional business chamber have announced their withdrawal from the upcoming edition, while on Thursday, November 27th, the national association of agricultural machinery manufacturers (EKAGEM) officially called on the Fair's organization to cancel the upcoming edition.
The developments emerge from the harsh economic conditions that hundreds of thousands of Greek producers across Greece and agricultural specialties face, due to the total lack of cash liquidity and accumulation of debts. This economic dead-end has been triggered by the pause on subsidy payments from the Greek government, as a result of the OPEKEPE scandal, on top of the chronic economic problems Greek producers suffer, such as increasing production costs, low prices, and incomplete damage compensation for weather phenomena.
© EKAGEM
Photo credits EKAGEM
All these include a strong, direct impact on the prospects of the agricultural machinery market, as producers, owing money everywhere, cannot even think of investing in new equipment. It is estimated that the Greek government owes them more than 1 billion euros since 2024. EKAGEM stresses that "the actual critical circumstance severely damages the primary sector, creating chain effects on all the sector companies, but also on the entire national economy," and asks the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Foodstuff for "the immediate implementation of all the necessary structural interventions in order to halt the further deterioration of the situation in the agricultural world and achieve a prompt normalization and stabilization of the sector."
From their part, major agricultural machinery companies and members of EKAGEM, such as Agrotech, PJ Condellis, Higas, and Kouimtzis, have posted these days similar announcements highlighting their sympathy to the Greek growers in their agony to stay in their farms and jobs, stressing that under these circumstances, Agrotica cannot have its usual celebratory character and for this reason it should not take place until the improvement of the situation.
The absence of these companies from Agrotica constitutes a significant blow to the prestige of the fair, whose realization in February is considered in question, but up to now, there is no official statement from Agrotica's organizers (TIF-HELEXPO).
