Spyridon Mamalis. Geotechnical Chamber of Greece Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology

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1 Spyridon Mamalis Geotechnical Chamber of Greece Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology

2 The primary sector of the economy was seen as the steam engine of development and enhancement of the Greek economy after the crisis of 2009

3 The primary sector has been struck twice during The development period The crisis period 1981 trade balance 38 millions Euro 1991 trade balance -311 millions Euro 2001 trade balance - 1 billion Euro 2009 trade balance -4 billion euro Productivity : -25% Technical efficiency from 0.63 to 0.36

4 In inputs Improvement projects Marketing of agricultural supplies Totally more than a GDP of Greece

5 Oriented in subsidies Have low level of GDP production Low level of education Aging farmers Employment 11% labor force loss of jobs loss of jobs gain jobs loss of jobs

6 Society turned the eyes towards rural economy Significant stream among urban dwellers New residents engaged in activities in the rural sector Countryside seemed to be a safe place in the face of the oncoming economic crisis

7 Young people from urban centers were thinking of returning to countryside and involved in agriculture (estimated up to 1 million) 68% thought of leaving urban centers 19% had already made specific moves 50% showed a desire to be employed in the agricultural sector 18% in tourism culture 7% in trade 8% in rural tourism

8 21%, years old 25%, years old 13%, years old 25% hold a postgraduate degree 43% hold a university degree

9 Attracting new people to countryside was expressed as a priority to EU programs National policy of redistribution of abandoned agricultural land New credit schemes for agriculture

10 Introduction of innovative ideas Production of local agricultural products with high added value Protection of environment Promotion of biodiversity Development of less favored areas Connection of primary sector to the tourism sector Emergence of new social and cultural conditions Turning the crisis into opportunity

11 Based not on labor Innovative ideas,increase of added value Development of the myth about the product, the place, the tradition. Revival of old practices and techniques Competitiveness was not based on size but in originality Small is beautiful

12 Increase in extroversion and exports Increase in GDP from 6,188 to 6,865 billions 3,8 of total GDP (2000 6,6% ,3%) Trade deficit in agricultural products 1,3 billion euro (2014) Exports increased slowly until 2014 From 4,6 billions in 2010 to 5,4 billions in2013

13 The reaction of Greek economy was transient and shallow Bulk Products and not processed goods 2014 exports felt to 5,1 billions euro

14 Policies did not provided opportunities for innovation Access to credit Tools to penetrate new markets No creation of production infrastructure Supportive counseling Training and education Creation of stable environment

15 Greek agriculture continue to suffer from the same failings that in had to the past Young people do not dare to get involved in the agriculture Reinforcing the declining course of the past 1. Both in the age composition of the population 2. In the business operations of the production sector

16 Lack of infrastructure Lack of clear business plan Lack of a proper business environment Complete absence of the state through support mechanisms

17 Lack of knowledge of the conditions that they will face Lack of land Lack of machinery Cost and production capacities

18 Social environment Adaption of countryside lifestyle Lack of experience and guidance No understanding of market conditions Lack of organized cooperatives forms

19 People who returned coming from preexisting farm families and just replaced those who leave

20 Forests faced as a source for energy and not for production No connection between forests and agriculture New law for forest co-operatives Architecture of decoupling (direct payments) for livestock

21 Encouraging youth employment in agriculture through development planning is an essential process in restarting the Greek economy. Discussion The competitiveness of the Greek rural economy should not be based on the inflows of economic migrants when young scientists leave to go abroad The brain drain should be replaced from their installment in the Greek countryside

22 Results reveal that the government should place in its central policy the returning of young people to the countryside. Discussion This is a debt owed by the political leadership and all agencies involved and the European Union, which carries great responsibility for the current situation.

23 Encourage entrepreneurship Create a healthy business environment Providing a supportive mechanism Change the model of CAP application Regard farmer as entrepreneur not as a trader Reduce taxes and contributions

24 All the involved parties should be co operate to reverse the declining trend of the sector. The dynamics and opportunities are there. It is enough to be able to see them so, that we may study and exploit them.

25 Knowledge is an important input to Policy makers Key word Epilogue Managing the return or non-return of young people to the countryside