which is interwoven with the land, constitute
Greece’s most valuable, albeit heretofore unex-
ploited, asset.
This means that a more comprehensive growth
plan should include investments in both tourism,
and the agrifood industry. The latter will occupy a
dominant position, since it is a productive sector
that is naturally renewed, offers high rewards in a
short time without actually requiring huge invest-
ments, and covers the most elementary parame-
ter of a society’s survival, i.e. nutrition.
Self-sufficiency in safe and high-quality foods is
one of the greatest challenges a modern agrifood
policy should meet. In Greece, giving top priority
to this policy is key to the development of the agri-
cultural sector, because only this policy can utilize
Greece’s comparative advantages to the sector’s
benefit.
One of the findings of a recent study by the
Foundation for Economic & Industrial Research
(IOVE) is very telling indeed: in Greece, a 1%
increase in the output of the primary sector can
produce a total GDP growth of 5%.
The growth of employment in the agricultural sec-
tor is recently standing out as the —only— posi-
tive effect of the crisis. As a result, it is reasonable
for young people plagued by unemployment to
seek refuge to traditional activities, one such
being the return to the land, with the prime pur-
pose of engaging in agriculture. However, the
question is whether rural areas fulfil the condi-
tions for securing the minimum, i.e. a sustainable
living standard and income.
Making vague references to improved social ben-
efits in the rural areas, when these benefits are
not comparable to those in urban areas, is not
enough. It is also not enough to allot abandoned
farmlands, if such allotment is not accompanied
by specific support measures.
The Greek agrifood industry is very extensive and
capable of producing goods for which there is
increased demand in global markets, covering, at
the same time, Greece’s domestic needs. It is
inconceivable to have cheeses from neighbouring
countries on Greek tables, when the domestic
cheeses are of much higher quality and can cover
the consumers’ needs. It is also inconceivable to
import sugar because we are closing down sugar
factories and abandoning beet production, in a
period of increased international demand for this
commodity.
All the above are linked to specific targets, as well
as sector-specific and region-specific long-term
policies, which need to be effectively supported.
This effective support will be realised if the trad-
ing of farm products and supplies is set on new
foundations, in order to eliminate phenomena
such as the purchase of locally produced animal
feeds by livestock farmers at prices double than
those paid to the producers, or the occupation of
street markets by retailers, instead of the farm-
ers/producers themselves.
Talking about organic and innovative farm prod-
ucts is not enough — we need to talk about how
they will reach the low-income consumers’ table.
This is why the trade unions of this sector are in
need of a new beginning, in order to find their syn-
ergistic expression that will turn them into an
effective representative and servant of the farm-
ers’ concerns and the consumers’ needs.
Trade with Greece
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