ISHS Acta Horticulturae 287: II International Symposium on Protected Cultivation of Vegetables in Mild Winter Climates
PREFACE |
| Authors: | G. Katzagiannakis, D. Economou, A.&o.;n. Monteiro | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract:
I will not try to cover any of the subjects of this Symposium, which you will extensively analyze during the next five days. Instead, I will briefly present the situation of protected cultivations in Greece, paying particular attention to the island of Crete. Vegetable crops in greenhouses were first introduced in our country in 1960. Namely they have a short history of only 30 years. They were first applied in Southern Greece (Crete, southern islands) where the weather conditions are milder. Then, they were expanded to other northern areas, which are suitable for such cultivations. The total acreage of greenhouses existing in Greece (for the year 1988) is 3.950 hectares (see Table below). These greenhouses are mainly (97%) covered by plastic PE and only 3% of them are covered by glass (the latter are used mainly in floriculture). The most important production areas of out-of season vegetables are the following: Crete which accounts for 49% of total acreage of greenhouses; Southwestern Peloponessos which accounts for 21%; Central Macedonia which accounts for 14% while the remaining areas account for approx. 16%.
Note: The difference between the acreage of greenhouses and the acreage of cultivations is due to the fact that, many greenhouses are cultivated twice a year. Greenhouses are mainly used for vegetables (84%); a small percentage (6,5%) is devoted to floriculture and the remaining (10%) to fruits (such as bananas, strawberries, etc.). The island of Crete is located between 34°55' and 35°41' of latitude and 23°30' and 26°19' longitude. The total area of the island, including the surrounding small islands, is 8.336 square kilometres. Of this area, only 37% is cultivated, while the remaining consists of mountains, forests, infertile regions, settlings etc. Rainfalls are heavier in Western Crete (1. 066 mm) and less so in Eastern Crete (only 350 mm). The island is most of the time sunny (2. 800–3.200 hours per annum); the temperature at level areas varies between 4,2°C (mean minimum) and 37,4°C (mean maximum) (average during the last decade). The total acreage of greenhouses in the island is 1.920 hectares. Vegetables cover 1.795 hectares, bananas and other fruits cover 330 hectares and flowers 99 hectares. Glass covered greenhouses account for only 12 hectares, while the remaining 1.908 hectares are covered by plastic PE, having mainly wooden or a combination of wooden & metal frame. Very few greenhouses (covering only 208 hectares) have only metal frames. Out of the total greenhouses acreage, only 41 hectares are fully equipped wih heating systems (mainly greenhouses for flowers), while all the other greenhouses do not have any heating systems. However, all greenhouse constructions have recently been improved considerably (more resistant to wind, operational, etc) following the technical specifications imposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and the ABG. The most important vegetables crops grown in Crete and their total production are as follows:
Cucumber exports are the most considerable and amount to 40–45.000 tonnes per annum. It is estimated that, in 1988 the total gross value of out-of-season Cretan vegetables amounted to 11 billion drs (approx. US $ 65 million) at current prices. In conclusion, I would like to note that in Crete there are 7 Institutes and Agricultural Stations specialized in agricultural research. These have considerably contributed to the development of the sector. Finally, on behalf of the Organizing Committee, I would like to welcome you in Crete and wish you all a pleasant stay and a fruitful symposium. On behalf of the Agricultural Bank of Greece, I am delighted to welcome you to the 2nd Symposium on "Protected Cultivations in Mild Winter Climates", which is jointly organized by the Agricultural Bank of Greece and the I.S.H.S., and to wish you a fruitful exchange of ideas and the Symposium every success. I am sure that the Symposium, through the research papers to be presented and the exchange of experience in relevant areas, will contribute to the advancement of existing technology and thus to the development of the agricultural sector. At this point I would like to stress that, the ABG has taken the initiative to organize this Symposium because it is an agricultural credit organization oriented towards the development of the Greek agricultural sector. Moreover, it has always been greatly involved not only in the development of out-of-season vegetable crops but of all crops in general. To achieve this, the ABG finances more than 90% of all loans granted to Greek farmers (not only for infrastructure works but also to cover their needs for working capital). In addition, the ABG offers technical advice to farmers through its highly qualified personnel (agronomists). In 1989, the ABG celebrated - through various events - its 60 years of operation since its establishment : 60 years of continuous financial and social assistance to the agricultural sector. This Symposium is the last and most important event in this respect. It is a great satisfaction, pleasure and honour for the Agricultural Bank to receive in Crete today more than 170 famous scientists from 22 countries all over the world; their participation warranties the success of this Symposium. There is no doubt that, this fruitful meeting among scientists coming from Universities, Research Institutes and other organizations will contribute, through the exchange of their knowledge and experience, to the promotion and development of protected cultivations, a crucially important sector in our country. I wish this Symposium every success and a pleasant stay in Greece to you all. It is a honnour and a pleasure for me to participate in this symposium for various reasons. It is the first I.S.H.S. symposium on protected cultivation in Greece, which has a greenhouse vegetable industry very important and active. It is also very pleasant to be in a lovely place like Crete, birth of the European civilization and full of historical meanings. I still remember when I was told, as a young boy, the story of Teseus and the Minotaurus, which hapenned according to the tradition about 4000 years ago just 20 km far from this room. The preparation of this meeting started a few years ago when I met Mr. Kostis Papadakis, and I did propose him to organize an I.S.H.S. Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Greece. He told me that there was a special bank in Greece, which not only finances the growers but also gives them technical and economical advice, that could be interested on sponsoring the symposium. The suggestion was accepted by the Agricultural Bank of Greece and the organization started. Therefore, I want to thank the A.B.G. for sponsoring the meeting and for having accepted to cooperate with the I.S.H.S. Special thanks to the colleagues from the Agricultural Bank of Greece and from other Greek institutions, serving as members of the Scientific and Organizing committees, for everything they have done on preparing the meeting we are now participating in. I know, by my own experience, the big work and difficulties this kind of activities give, especially when they are done in addition to our regular work. This symposium is going to be the 4th dealing with protected cultivation in mild winter climates, since the first one was held in 1985. It shows that protected cultivation in these particular conditions is becoming very active and that scientists and other horticulturists consider this type of meetings to be important. I am sure that the symposium is going to be a very good one due to the high number and value of the participants, the interest of the invited and contributed papers and the possibility of visiting an important region for production and export of greenhouse winter vegetables. I wish to all of you a profitable participation in this meeting and I do hope, that all together, we can continue to improve the technology of greenhouse production of vegetables, to help the growers to use the mild winter climatic conditions in the best way for their own progress and for the progress of our own countries as well. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
