An x-ray of the Greek primary sector, as reflected in the annual agricultural statistical survey published by the Hellenic Statistical Authority.

A small decrease of 0.2% in total cultivated agricultural land, with olive trees covering most of it and a large increase of 24.2% for aromatic plants, is recorded in the annual agricultural statistical survey for the year 2019, as announced a few days ago by the Hellenic Statistical Authority. In fact, the survey, which aims to assist in the formulation of Greece’s agricultural policy, as well as in meeting other national and international needs and obligations, also notes that as far as agricultural products are concerned, there was a significant decrease in olive oil (by 11.4% and possibly due to the weather conditions), while the production of olive fruit increased by 17.2%.

Namely, the survey points out that the total cultivated agricultural land (arable crops, horticultural land, permanent crops, and fallow land) in 2019 amounts to 32,165.4 thousand hectares, while the main crop groups by year are distributed as follows:

• In 2019, 52.8% of the cultivated area (16,988.5 thousand hectares) was used for arable crops (net area), 1.9% (595.7 thousand hectares) for horticultural crops (net area), 33.8% (10,882.3 thousand hectares) for permanent crops, and 11.5% (3,698.8 thousand hectares) were fallow land.

• Ιn 2018, 53.4% of the cultivated area (17,195.6 thousand hectares) was used for arable crops (net area), 1.9% (618.9 thousand hectares) for horticultural crops (net area), 33.7% (10,851 thousand hectares) for permanent crops, while 11.0% (3,551.3 thousand hectares) were fallow.

The changes in the utilised agricultural land of the most important (in terms of coverage of the total utilised agricultural land) types of crops observed in the whole of Greece are as follows:

• In cultivated areas with olive groves, there was an increase of 0.8% in 2019 compared to 2018. Namely, 7,921.0 and 7,930.9 thousand hectares were cultivated in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

• In the cultivated areas with peaches and nectarines, a decrease of 0.5% in 2019 compared to 2018, was observed. Specifically, 395.8 and 394 thousand hectares were cultivated in 2018 and 2019, respectively

• In the cultivated areas with orange trees, an increase of 0.5% in 2019 compared to 2018, was registered. In particular, 293.1 and 294.5 thousand hectares were cultivated in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

• In cultivated areas with vines, there was a decrease of 2.5% in 2019 compared to 2018. Particularly, 892.5 and 870.1 thousand hectares were cultivated in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

• Finally, in the cultivated areas with durum wheat, a decrease of 11.6% in 2019 compared to 2018 was recorded. Namely, 3,123.1 and 2,761.6 thousand acres were cultivated in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

Production of agricultural products: Olive oil down, but olives see increase

The changes in the most important, in terms of production volume, agricultural products in the country as a whole, according to the data pulled from the survey, are:

• In olive oil production, a decrease of 11.4% in 2019 compared to 2018, was registered. In particular, 327.7 and 290.5 thousand tons of olive oil were produced in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

• In olive fruit production, there was an increase of 17.2% in 2019 compared to 2018. Specifically, 2,764.6 and 3,240.1 thousand tons of olives were produced in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

• Οrange production was down 0.6% in 2019 compared to 2018. Namely, 744.8 and 740.5 thousand tons of oranges were produced in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

• Grape must production also saw a decrease of 6.6% in 2019 compared to 2018. Particularly, 300 and 280.3 thousand tons of must were produced in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

• On the contrary, grape production was up by 0.3% in 2019 compared to 2018. In particular, 815.6 and 818.1 thousand tons of grapes were produced in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

• Finally, durum wheat production, decreased by 11.5% in 2019 compared to 2018. Namely, 928.5 and 821.8 thousand tons of durum wheat were produced in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

Livestock farming & production: Poultry reigns supreme

Changes in the number of the most important animals, as presented in the Hellenic Statistical Authority’s survey:

• An increase of 0.5% in 2019 compared to 2018, in the total number of bovines. Specifically, in 2018 and 2019, cattle totaled 734,770 and 738,276 respectively.

• In the total number of pigs, there was a decrease of 1.9% in 2019 compared to 2018. Namely, in 2018 and 2019 the number of pigs amounted to 719,727 and 705,736 respectively.

• An upward trend of 0.1% in 2019 compared to 2018, in the number of sheep in the country. More specifically, in 2018 and 2019, the number of sheep amounted to 8,908,739 and 8,917,973, respectively. At the same time, an increase of 0.1% in 2019 compared to 2018 was also recorded in the number of goats; goats totaled 3,941,960 and 3,944,691 in 2019 and 2018, respectively.

• in the total number of chicken, an increase of 5.1% in 2019 compared to 2018. Specifically, the number of chickens amounted to 37,299,748 and 39,188,039, respectively.

Meat production slightly down compared to 2018

The changes in Greek meat production for the year 2019, were as follows:

• A decrease of 7% in beef meat compared to 2018. In fact, 42.4 and 39.5 thousand tons were produced, respectively, in 2019 and 2018.

• A 0.9% increase in 2019 compared to 2018 in pork meat production, which amounted to 80.6 thousand tons. Sheep meat was also 0.7% down in 2019. Namely, from 52.4 thousand tons in 2018, production fell to 52 thousand tons in 2019.

• In goat meat production, a decrease of 5.5% in 2019 compared to 2018, was reported. Specifically, 20.2 and 19.1 thousand tons of goat meat were produced in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

• There was a 1.9% downward trend in poultry meat production (excluding ostriches), in 2019 compared to 2018. More specifically, 244.3 and 239.8 thousand tons of poultry meat were produced in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

Milk, dairy & other livestock products

Here are the changes in milk and main livestock products for 2019, according to data collected by the annual agricultural statistical survey:

• An increase of 2.2% in total milk production was registered in 2019. In particular, 1,919.9 and 1,961.9 thousand tons of milk were produced in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

• Soft cheese production was down 0.2%, with 101.5 thousand tons produced in 2019.

• Finally, egg production saw an 8.9% increase compared to 2018. Namely, in 2018 and 2019, 1,376 and 1,497.7 million eggs were produced, respectively.

Discover more about Greek Agriculture >>