Agriculture

Prices of sea bass and sea bream have dropped to their lowest level in recent years, aggravating the already difficult situation of the two main aquaculture companies in Greece, Nireus and Selonda, but the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 2020 may signal the start of a price recovery for the two important fish farming products.

Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said on Wednesday that the current Government has understood the essential role of Agriculture and the importance of the development of the Romanian village and has supported this sector through all the levers available.

When Romania joined the European Union in 2007, its wheat yields were standing at 3 million tonnes, and now it is at 10 million tonnes, for the third year in a row, Agriculture Minister Petre Daea told a public broadcaster on Monday. "In 2007, Romania joined the European Union with 3 million tonnes of wheat.

Farmers in Larissa, central Greece, are planning to roll out their tractors at the Platykambos junction of the Athens-Thessaloniki national road on Monday in protest at cotton prices, which they complain are too low for them to cover production costs.
The farmers are demanding a meeting with Agriculture and Food Minister Makis Voridis to discuss their grievances.

Compared to last year, sunflower yields in some areas are definitely lower, because of the drought, which will also affect the overall average yield in the country, said the Chairman of the National Association of Grain Producers, Kostadin Kostadinov, in an interview with Focus News Agency. "This year has been quite diverse for all agricultural production.

A new report by the conservation organization WWF warns that the climate crisis poses an increasing real risk of global droughts. According to the study, these processes put pressure on wetlands and the urban environment and negatively impact the lives of 55 million people each year, putting energy supplies and food production at risk.

Many vineyards have been affected by hail before the grape harvest, said Krasimir Koev, Executive Agency on Vine and Wine (EAVW), in an interview with Focus News Agency. 

The agricultural producer price index increased by 5.3%  for the second quarter of 2019 compared to the same quarter of 2018, the NSI reported. The price index of crop production increased by 5.8% and of livestock production - by 4.6%. Compared to the previous year, prices of agricultural products increased by 4.1%, in crop production by 4.9% and in animal husbandry - by 3.0%.

France will ask the European Commission to bring forward the payment of 1 billion euros ($1.12 billion) of subsidies to help farmers cope with a hot spell that hurt crops and pasture, with more damage feared this week, the farm minister said on July 22.

Turkey's aquaculture sector has a significant share in the world production, the country's agriculture and forestry minister said on July 10.