Agriculture in Greece
The term Agriculture derives from two Latin words meaning "soil" and "cultivation". It encompasses crop production including horticulture, livestock rearing, fisheries, forestry, etc. Agriculture has a deep history in Greece, based on its Mediterranean climate. Key crops are olives, grapes, citrus fruits, cereals, and vegetables, with emphasis on olive oil. The country also produces livestock products and wines. Fisheries play an important role while forestry is secondary. Greek agriculture is heavily subsidized by the EU Common Agricultural Policy. In 2018, Greece produced 1.2 million tons of maize.
Ancient Greek agriculture focused on wheat, barley, olives and grapes to feed families. A key technique was crop rotation to restore nutrients. Agriculture was foundational for ancient Greek civilization, economy and culture. Through farming innovations and a seasonal calendar, productivity was maximized. Agricultural productivity powered economic growth and influenced society. Land ownership conferred wealth and power on aristocrats who had political influence. Overall crop yields remained low. Attempts to introduce three-year rotation with legumes met problems due to poor soil and lack of mechanization.
Goddesses and Forestry in Greek Agriculture
The Greek Goddess of agriculture is Demeter. The word cereal comes from the Latin "cerealis", derived from Ceres the Roman Goddess of Agriculture. Forestry played an important role in ancient Greece, providing timber mainly for houses and wagons. Greek forests were eventually stripped due to overgrazing and coal production. Agricultural tools were made of wood and bronze but were limited in their ability to turn over and aerate soil. Wheat and barley were important cereals but agricultural productivity could not meet demands. This led to colonization and reliance on imported grain.