Action plan for the integrated pastoral development of the eastern Peloponnese

Livestock husbandry constitutes an important activity of the primary sector in eastern Peloponnese. It has 17.1% of sheep, 15.1% of cattle, 22.1 % of goats and 8.7% of pig exploitations of the whole region of Peloponnese. There are about 25 exploitations of goats and sheep with 300-600 heads each which are raised extensively because they are based on rangelands. In general, these exploitations do not cause any problems to the environment. In 1991, there were 2.3 million ha of rangelands corresponding to 57.1% of the whole area. From a local research which took place in the cheese factories of the region it was found that they were no more than 10, processed 100 to 3,000 tons of milk per year and produced white, hard and soft goat-sheep cheeses, butter and yogurt. It is needed: a) rangelands to be integrated in an organic farming program, b) farmers to get financial aid, c) Municipalities and farmers get informed about organic farming and premium products and d) to modernize cheese factories aiming at the production of premium products. The action plan for the pastoral development of the region includes the recruitment of a veterinarian in the Parnonas Company, investments in processing the animal products, a development study for organic farming and the application of a Guide of Good Practices for Livestock Husbandry.