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The cultivation of rice in our country has been developing more and more in recent years.
According to estimates from those involved in this cultivation, rice fields in our country now reach 300,000 hectares, with production reaching 270,000 tons of rice with husk or 150,000 tons of “clean” rice. Additionally, the same estimates speak of a large number of rice producers, who reach up to 10,000 across Greece, a number that will not be surprising if it increases, considering the good prices for rice compared to those for cotton and corn.
Our country ranks third among the Member States of the European Union behind first Italy and second Spain, while Portugal follows in fourth place.
“Last year, the cultivated areas increased by 10%, while this year they may increase by up to 15%” said the President of the Interprofessional Rice Organization, Giannis Arnaoutelis, to the Athens – Macedonian News Agency, stating however that “all this of course can only happen if we have an adequate water supply.”
Climate change has logically affected this specific cultivation. The sparse rains and snowfalls of previous years have resulted in an insufficient amount of water and producers facing difficulties. And all this, considering that rice farming is literally a crop produced in water.
“Due to the lack of water, yields in the field have been affected. Naturally, the lack of water is a significant issue for us. If it doesn’t rain and it doesn’t snow, there are problems” said Mr. Arnaoutelis, adding “but this year is expected to be an excellent year.” He explains, “there are already substantial amounts of water from the rainfall and the snow that fell in the past months in our country.”
The issue of water is more significant in Macedonia, an area where up to 70% of the country’s total production is located. According to the president of the Interprofessional Organization, farmers there have to deal with water shortages due to the management of rivers by other countries where they initially pass.
“Beyond the Aliakmon, which we manage entirely ourselves, there is the Axios River, which passes through a neighboring country before reaching us, regulating the quantities that will eventually reach us after first covering their own needs,” he continued, “the same applies to the Evros region, where the river is controlled by Bulgaria before it ends up flowing into the Aegean.”
Two-thirds of production is exported
The high quality of Greek rice is also shown to be preferred by foreign countries, where two-thirds of the total production is destined.
“One third of the total production meets domestic needs and the remaining two-thirds are directed for export,” said Mr. Arnaoutelis.
The main destination for Greek rice in international markets is the Mediterranean Basin countries, Poland, Turkey, but mainly, the Middle Eastern states.
The issues
As one would expect, not everything is rosy for the sector which, apart from the lack of water, faces the weather conditions prevailing during the harvest of the final product.
The price is also an issue. “This product is a commodity. We have to compete with traditional rice growing countries like Italy and Spain, which is not easy,” he noted.
Another issue, according to the President of the Interprofessional Rice Organization, is the European Union’s strictness regarding the use of pesticides. “The EU is strict about ensuring food quality and pesticides. That’s why it desires producers to use more ‘light’ pesticides to combat pests on their crops,” Mr. Arnaoutelis pointed out to the AMNA.
He continued, “this results in needing larger quantities of pesticides, increasing costs for farmers and simultaneously reducing their production. If more efficient pesticides are not used, then production decreases.”
Finally, he, speaking about the establishment of the Interprofessional Rice Organization, emphasizes that it resulted in “bringing production closer to processing. This means we sit together, trying to find solutions to the problems we have. Additionally, we are trying through programs to place Greek rice in new, more profitable markets.” (2/3/2025)