Implementation of the Regulation EU 1257/99 for the afforestation of agricultural land: The case of mulberry cultivation
Over the last years there is an increased interest for planting woody species which have high nutritive value, high production of forage production and moreover they can be easily established. Mulberry, a native tree of China and Far East, is included among the above spesies. Moreover its foliage constitutes food for silkworms and is used for pharmaceutical purposes. In Greece, mulberry cultivation, is particularly developed in the region of Soufli of Evros prefecture. In this paper, the implementation of regulation EE/1257/99 in the prefecture of Evros was examined. More specifically, the attitudes of investors-mulberry cultivators and the structural characteristics of farms were studied.
Economic analysis and work efficiency of a mountainous natural livestock park creation
This paper utilizes the results of a relevant analysis and evaluation research of the 243 stockfarms in 14,900 ha of rangelands in 5 municipal departments (Diasello, Achladochori, Grizano, Liopraso and Agrelia) of Trikala Prefecture and also the potential and preconditions for development of livestock production and management of rangelands in question. A specific integrated proposal of intervention and works was including infrastructure and vegetation improvement, sound rangeland management, gradual establishment of organic livestock production, information and education of the producers, generation of livestock farmer networks to produce themselves healthy and therefore organic supplementary fodder, and finally actions for creation of promotion networks and exhibition of organic livestock products in a framework of developing the mountainous natural livestock park. A budget of 10,950,000 euros is needed so that the net annual revenue reaches 2,513,412 euros or 372,4 €/ha, with 20 years depreciation of works and a real interest of 1% provided. The net present value is significantly positive, whereas the internal rate of return amounts to 38,7%. The very positive results of the economic analysis along with reasons of social make the financing and implementation of the mountainous natural livestock park imperative.
Natural livestock parks: The cores – steam engines of the organic livestock production
The efforts of recovery, modernization and development of the hellenic livestock production dependent mainly on the european subsidies during the last years. The competition from the international markets in combination with the imminent constraints of subsidies along with the need addiction for industrial foodstuff of the hellenic dairy livestock, limited the optimistic prospects of the hellenic livestock husbandry. The appearance and the persisting threat of the nutritional nightmare, the turning and demand of the consumer for healthy products generated new conditions in the market of animal production. The feature of the pastoral hellenic livestock using in a great percentage natural pastures in areas of limited or null pollution reconstituted on the foreground some of the comparative advantages and the favourable prospects of being transformed to organic livestock. This prospect, counted so far on individual efforts, proceeds with very small steps and big time delay compared with the needs of consumption. The collective effort and the making of extended cores of organic livestock in the pattern of the “natural mountainous livestock parks” multiplies the favourable prospects and behaves as a steam engine at the further promotion of the livestock in question, since the trend and satisfaction of the consumer needs for organic products is supported and enforced, his confidence upgrades, the healthy vying between the core producers is possible, the procedures of the relevant certification become more economic, the better, more efficient and economic control is allowed, the livestock farms place in the market of organic products gets strengthened and finally it creates scale economies with all the positive effects because of this fact. The creation of infrastructure in such model cores is an essential motive for the creation of the cores in question.
The application of the parliamentary law 1804/99 referring to organic livestock raising in the Thessaly Region
Τhe objective of this study was to evaluate the application of organic livestock raising program in the Thessaly region. We found out that the shares of the Thessaly region regarding the application of organic livestock raising, are sufficient. According to specific data collected in 2002, the Thessaly region is classed third regarding the overall distribution of the organic rangelands in Greece, first regarding the overall distribution of the organic farmers and third regarding the overall distribution of organic animals. On the other hand, the organic livestock raising in the interior of the region is extremely unevenly distributed. In specific areas, i.e. Anavra village in Magnesia prefecture, it is referred very important organic livestock raising, while in other places there are no organic animals. These findings have showed that one program about the optimal application of organic livestock raising program has to be developed in the region in order to help the residents of mountainous areas to maintain their income and also to protect the renewable natural resources according to the principles of sustainable development.
Present condition of pastures and forests in Albania
Pastures and meadows of Albania amount to 416.000 ha and cover 16% of the total area of the country. The largest part of these areas is grazed during summer and belongs to communes and villages. Livestock of Albania includes about 1.900.000 sheep, 1.100.000 goats and 730.000 cattle. All sheep and goats and a significant part of cattle graze in pastures but in forests as well. The latter covers 35% of Albania and include high forests, coppice and shrublands. The stocking rate of pastures is estimated to be 6,8 sheep equivalents/ha/year, while the grazing capacity is no more than 4,5 sheep equivalents/ha/year suggesting overgrazing. The General Directorate of Forests and Pastures where the responsibility of management and improvement pastures belongs invests 300.000 USD per year, mainly for infrastructure. The future planning for pastures includes: a) drawing up of integrated studies, b) organization of their management and administration, c) the establishment of model range units in shrublands and partially forested areas and d) the decentralization of ownership by giving part of forests and pastures to the communes.
