Greek+Agriculture

 Greek Agriculture By Jaime  Agriculture: the occupation, business, or science of cultivating the land, producing crops, and raising livestock. Greece is the only country in Europe that grows cotton. It is bordered by the magnificent Mediterranean Sea which supplies delicious seafood and raises yummy soon to be Veil. Greek agriculture plays an important role in feeding over half of the country. (Baxevains) Greek crops are the livelyhood of over half of the country’s population. Although only 1/3 of the country is cultivable, it is used to its fullest. There, cotton is grown, which does not sound very important, however, Greece is the only producer of cotton out of the whole European Union. Only a small portion of the soil is fertile, and most of it is mountains, so Greece dose the best they can. Other important crops that are grown on their agriculture land are tobacco, apples, nectarines, corn, tomatoes, sugar beets, peaches, barley, and wheat. The crops that are grown on this land, but exported to other European countries are oranges, potatoes, melons, grapes, and olives. Who would have thought that Greece has one of the worlds largest supplies of olive oil and raisins? (Baxevains) If you have seen “Mama Mia”, then you know how beautiful and inviting the [|Mediterranean Sea] looks. Wouldn’t you want to live there if you were a sea creature? Seafood plays a large role in supporting Greece, being that there are 1,400 islands included, and so many crystal clear coasts to fish off of. There is not too much commercial fishing in the Mediterranean, however, the people of Greece depend on the seafood. In fact, it was so money making for Greece that it led to over fishing and in return bringing down the fishing economy in order for the fish population to rise again. The main seafood that is fished from the Mediterranean Sea is tuna, sardines, shrimp, and anchovies. They also harvest coral and sponges. (Yasso)

Greek livestock is not the most vital topic of Greece’s agriculture, but it is important. The livestock raised in Greece are cattle, sheep, poultry, goats, and hogs, but the most important animals raised in Greece are sheep and poultry. Many of their dairy products and meat are imported from other countries, but Greece also exports products. About 35% of Greece’s land consists of pastures, which gives you a good idea of how much livestock they have. (Baxevains)

The cost of Greece’s imported products is almost three times the amount of the cost of their exported products. Greece’s most important agricultural product that is imported into the country is meat, which is why Greek meat dishes contain mostly lamb because that is the only animal that really thrives on the mountains. This is because of the little supply of land used to raise livestock. Greece’s main trade partner is Germany, but they also trade with Italy, France, the Netherlands, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Even though they trade with other continents, around half of their trade happens between the other countries of the united nation. (Nagy)

The most important exported agricultural products of Greece are olive oil, prepared fruits, tobacco, tomato products, and wine. Also, during the winter, Greece exports hothouse-grown crops, to keep the money coming. This country is also known for creating and exporting high-quality wines, for the worldly consumption. Even though animal products are imported to Greece, they are also exported from Greece surprisingly enough. Sheep, pigs, goats, chicken, and cattle are also exported.(Encyclopedia Britanica)

Well as you can see, Greece plays an important role in feeding its own people, other countries of the European Union, and even other continents. Sometimes the littlest islands can make big differences in our lives. In this case, take a Greek salad for example, where do you think that beautiful tomato and feta cheese come from? Yes, it could be imported, but it originally started in Greece, right?

Work Cited:   Nagy, Kim. Greece. Our World Greece (2009) 1. MAS Ultra - School Edition. EBSCO. Web. 3 Dec. 2009. <[]> ** Greece ** . //Encyclopedia Britannica//. //Encyclopedia Britannica Online School Edition//. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009. Web.7 Dec. 2009< [] >.

Baxevanis, John J. "Greece." //World Book Advanced//. World Book, 2009. Web. 8 Dec. 2009. <[]>  Yasso, Warren E. "Mediterranean Sea." //World Book Advanced//. World Book, 2009. Web. 8 Dec. 2009. []