Evolution of the Messara Valley SES

Editor's note 5Aug13: Source D132-2.1. The full content of the original report could be used to provide more detail

Based on the Messara Valley story line, the following three major states or transitions of the SES have been distinguished according to their environmental, economic and social characteristics, the major LEDD issues that were faced and the responses applied.

Cereal moderniation period (1950 to 1970)  

During the cereal modernisation period, traditional agriculture was the main sector of the economy in the Messara Valley. Farms were based on the cultivation of cereals and vines. There were small gardens with a few animals, sufficient to satisfy local needs for vegetables, meat and milk. The exploitation of natural resources was moderate. Soil erosion in the sloping areas was limited due to sustainable cultivation of the land (using contour farming in shallow soil less than 15 cm deep). Chemical fertilizers were very limited and manure was the main organic input to the soil for increasing nutrient availability to the growing plants.

The rural population increased. Migration to urban areas was rather limited. The transport network and medical facilities were of low quality. Mechanization of agriculture was low. Central national programming and planning dominated without consideration of local administration needs.

Olive transition period (1970 to late 1980s) 

Significant changes occurred during the olive transition period, related to cultivated crops, intensity of land use, degradation of the environment, population characteristics, and new economic sectors. The expansion of cereals in more favourable areas (on mainland Greece) accompanied by increasing production through the introduction of new improved varieties, led to land use change in Messara Valley from cereals to olive plantations. The climate and soil conditions greatly favoured the installation of olive plantations which provided higher incomes for the farmers. The majority of vineyards that had been destroyed by phylloxera were replaced with new resistance varieties. Cultivation of early vegetables and the use of greenhouses was greatly expanded. There was moderate exploitation of water resources. Several wells were drilled in the area for irrigation of olives and vegetables. The previous multi-cropping traditional farm structure changed to mainly single-cropping systems.

Mechanization of agriculture following the introduction of tractors and other cultivation tools changed the traditional way of land management to a more intensive exploitation of natural resources. The traditional sustainable contour ploughing of shallow soils was replaced with non-sustainable deep ploughing in various directions, causing severe erosion problems. The amount of chemical fertilizers applied to crops rapidly increased since they were subsidized by national funds. Pest, disease and weed control by chemicals also widely expanded. Services offered by the Ministry of Agriculture at regional level introduced new technologies in crop production.

In addition, tourism development began with intensive growth of tourist facilities mainly along the coast, offering the opportunity for new jobs. Transportation by sea and air, connecting Crete with Athens and other European countries, improved taking local products safely and quickly to the main markets.

Rural population slowly declined with the domestic and international out-migration. The infrastructure changed, improving the transport network. Manufacturing activity was low. Agriculture was not seen as an attractive  employment option. The regional and local level of administration was not effective in the area. Central national programming and planning dominated, without consideration of the local administration needs.

Olive subsidy period (late 1980s to circa 2010)

The olive subsidy period was greatly affected by the accession of Greece to the European Union. Olive plantations were further expanded, replacing areas cultivated with annual crops and eventually covering the majority of the Messara Valley. Orange plantations and greenhouses for vegetables expanded, mainly in the lower part of the valley. The expansion of olive and vine plantations were favoured by the EU subsidies.

The amounts of fertilizer applied further increased until the last decade when farmers realized their negative impacts on the environment and the increased production costs and started to reduce their use. Drip irrigation was expanded to cover almost the whole valley in order to increase crop production. The over-exploitation of the aquifers resulted in the construction of small reservoirs to increase water availability.

The intensification of agriculture resulted in accelerated rates of soil erosion in the hilly areas. Pollution of the aquifers became an important issue due to over-use of fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides. Land desertification caused by salinization in the lower part of the valley and soil erosion in the sloping areas became an important issue. Organic farming and integrated land management practices were established in some areas.

There was an expansion and modernisation of the transport network, medical facilities, elementary and secondary schools and small agricultural factories processing agricultural products.

Population growth almost stabilized. Immigrants from foreign countries increased, offering cheap labour and keeping many farms active. Ageing of the population continued.

The local economy was affected by the CAP subsidies. Tourism grew significantly because of improved transport connections. The importance of the agricultural sector declined, especially in the last decade, because of increasing tourism development. A local tier in administration and policy planning was introduced, but it is still under strong central government control. Former informal networks have been corrupted and new ones built up.

Cereal modernization period (1950 to 1970)
Olive transition period (1970 to late 1980s)
Olive subsidy period (late 1980s to circa 2010)

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