Evening star., 1947-10-12
Greek Farmers
Get i. S. Help
Agricultural Machinery,
Water Drilling Rigs -.
Are Major Needs
BY {. N. HoImqreen
pidsefer Of the Division Of Agriculture,
American Mission for Aid 10 Greece

Gnree-lOurLQS OF an acre OF aTaDle
land per person, 95 per cent of all
exports are farm products.
Principal crops are cereals, to-
bacco, olive oil, cotton, currants,
raisins and fresh and dried fruits.
Before the war Germany and Cen
trail Europe were the market outlets
for these items. The purchasing
power of these countries Is now at
a low ebb.
The war damage to agriculture
cannot be accurately estimated
Sixty per cent of the draft animals
and most of the other livestock dis
appeared. Farm equipment was al
most entirely destroyed. The Ger
mans did a thorough job Of looting
and destruction. >
At. present more than half of
Northern Greece Is in a fear" zone
because of guerrilla warfare. Fortu-
nately much of the agricultural ter
ritory is in the lowlands where the
bandits do not operate. For this
reason it is probable that produc-
ton in these areas may be main
tanned at IS per cent of normal.
Crop Situation in Brief
The crop situation may be sum-
married. thus: Because of drought,
the wheat crop will be about 10000
tons, whereas 100000 tons were ex-
pected. The cotton crop is rs per
cent of normal. Tobacco is excellent,
and if it can be sold will bring about
s100, ,O00,0 of vitality needed foreign
exchange. The olive oil. crop is one
of the largest in history and should
bring STE, 100000 in exchange. Raisins
and currants are back to prewar
production. Fresh fruits and vege-
table crops are high, but transporta-
ton and lack of refrigeration make
them hard to market. The fish take
is at about the prewar level, but lack
of refrigeration and processing
plants limit the sale to markets near
the sea- coast.
Here are some Of the objectives
of the Agricultural Division:
To distribute UNRRA supplies
such as farm machinery. pumps,
seeds, etc.
To set up a systematic well-drill-
ing program.
The lack Of water is the principal
limiting factor in all food crops.
We have % drilling rigs which we
are putting to work. We have
some 2,400 irrigation pumps to dis
tribute. We need more well-driH-
ing equipment and pumps to leave
with trained crews who can con-
tinue a large well-drilling program.
The huge amount of farm equip
ment supplies sent here by UNRRA
is deficient in spare parts. We have
placed orders for $50,000 of spare
parts, with more to come later.
Canning Industry Set Up
The Greeks have been taught
that canned foods are dangerous.
For this reason 1t has been difficult
to set up some 80 canning plants
sent here by UNRRA. In the last
month we have, however, set up
two plants and five others have
been assembled.
Fish production is about 25,000
tons per year and an equal amount
is imported. On the arrival of the
mission we discovered that UNRRA
had purchased, at a cost of $428, 900,
13 fishing boats which had been
lying idle in the port since last jan
uary. We have finally induced the
government to sell five of these to
fishing co-operatives and the seven
others are to be sold within a month.
Wheat seed is an urgent need. It
has not been renewed for seven
years. Negotiations are being car
ried on with Italy and 5000 tons of
certified seed will be secured to put
the Greek seed producers back in
business. Some $4,000 tons of good
seed have been secured by the Greek
government.
Greece needs 10000 tons of nitrate
fertilizer, but the International Com
mittee has allocated only 10000 tons.
Local manufacture of phosphate
from North Africa raw rock is suf-
fcent for the needs of the country.
Five thousand tons of potash have
been requested.
Pesticides are greatly needed. To
supply this need we have ordered
two and one-third million dollars
worth. This will be sufficient for
next year.