Water deficiency in Greece: farmers rely on old cultivation methods!

Water deficiency in Greece: farmers rely on old cultivation methods!

In Greek agriculture, especially on the Kykladen, there is a worrying trend: water becomes increasingly rare. On the island of Sifnos, the farmer Giorgos Narlis is experimenting with old growing methods that do without artificial irrigation. Like Tagesschau reports, Narlis grows a variety of traditional plant varieties, including tomatoes and water and honey melons. These old varieties are characterized by deeper root systems that enable them to pull moisture out of the ground, in contrast to newer varieties that need more water and are often inferior.

The water shortage on Sifnos is not just a challenge for agriculture. Narlis' source of supply, an and less productive fountain, is a clear sign of the increasing water requirement, which is reinforced by tourism and the growth of holiday accommodation and hotels. Manoli's Foutoulakis, responsible for the water supply to the island, calls for saving water. A conflict of use between agriculture and tourism arises, especially in areas where the cultivation of food is dependent on water resources. As Tagesschau continues, the island of Naxos had already serious water problems last year because the reservoirs were only weakly filled.

The challenge of water lack

The effects of climate change further tighten the problem. According to the Environmental Federal Agency , the need for irrigation in agriculture is expected to increase. Especially with long dry periods or unfavorable weather conditions, numerous cultures need additional irrigation to achieve profitable yields.

In Germany, the irrigated area has increased significantly since 2009. In 2019, 506,480 hectares were irrigated outdoors, which has been indicated by 36 % since 2009. Lower Saxony takes on a pioneering role, with almost 55 % of the irrigated area in Germany. The need for water use efficiency is becoming increasingly urgent due to the decreasing precipitation and the increasing frequency of heavy rain events. 79 % of agricultural businesses are already relying on sprinklers, while 32 % also use water -saving drip irrigation.

efficient irrigation systems

A promising approach to cope with these challenges lies in the optimization of the irrigation systems. The DLG that partial mobile systems such as the district and linear affection can be a cost-efficient solution, in particular from approximately 20 hectar. While the circle of the district with annual costs of around 512 euros per hectare for 100 mm additional water is the cheapest option, the linear coating remains more expensive at 685 euros per hectare.

The advantages of these systems lie in your automated operation and the high water efficiency. Nevertheless, the economy requires larger areas, and there are challenges in the complete irrigation of rectangles without additional systems. If these technologies are optimally used, agriculture can make a decisive contribution to water economy and thus to long -term securing of harvests in times of climate change.

Giorgos Narlis hopes that his cultivation methods are seen as an example of the responsible handling of water. This is all the more important because Sifnos had to struggle with extremely little rain in the past three years, but this year there seems to be light on the horizon: regular rainfall could favor the upcoming tomato and melon harvest at the end of June.