The farmers of Naxos are sending out a warning signal, as the lack of water and infrastructure have irreparably damaged the island’s fine PDO potato, with producers unable to proceed with autumn sowing.
The numbers are revealing about the shrinking of the Naxos potato crop. Two years ago, in 2022, Naxos harvested 6,000 tons of potatoes. A year later, in 2023, the quantity was reduced to 4,000 tons, while this year production reached 1,800 tons.
“The situation is dramatic. A PDO product is at risk of disappearing because there are no infrastructure projects on the island”, were the first words to the OT of the president of the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (EAS) of Naxos Dimitris Kapounis, emphasizing that with the exhaustion of the 250 tons of stocks, which are in the warehouses , the island will be forced to import potatoes, for the first time in its history.
Works on paper
The water shortage problems could have been overcome if major infrastructure works had been done years ago.
As Mr. Kapounis points out, for 15 years, the Tsikalari dam has remained on the cardsa project worth 37.5 million euros, which, although it has been auctioned “for so many years, a hoe has not been put in to dig. There is no water because no one has taken an interest in this place. And I ask: the prefecture has 4 deputies. Where are they and what are they doing?”, he says characteristically.
At the same time, the problem intensifies as as the president of EAS Naxos notes, tertiary treatment of the biological cleaning of the Municipality is not progressingso that this water enriches the water table and almost 3 million cubic meters of water do not end up in the sea, which could irrigate the fields.
“Right now 50 and 60 year old wells from 13 to 18 meters are dry. We don’t even have to water the animals. And the ones they have are made of salt water,” says Mr. Kapounis characteristically
Naxos potato without autumn sowing
From August 15 to September 15, the second sowing of the year (autumn) should have begun and over 1,000 acres should have been planted. But until now, no planting has been done as producers cannot irrigate their fields. However, the production from the spring sowing of February – March was reduced by almost 60%.
All its farmers and breeders, who support 50% of the economy, face problems from the lack of water.
Characteristic of the shortages that have arisen in Naxos, which has always been self-sufficient, Mr. Kapounis notes that tomatoes are currently being imported from Poland to the island, while as he warns, in October, with the exhaustion of the 250-ton stocks, there will be – for the first time – import of potatoes.
Risk of adulteration of the Naxos potato
“Counterfeiting reigns”, warns the president of EAS Naxos, explaining that in about five weeks the stocks in the Cooperative’s warehouses will be exhausted then “from then on there will be an orgy of counterfeiting, as well as controls on the market are non-existent ».
This is how the cases of adulteration are explained, that despite the limited quantities, there are Naxos potatoes all year round throughout Greece.
“The Naku potato is the best brand because they have taste, it is cultivated in good climatic conditions, planted in sandy soil and without fertilizers but with natural fertilization by animals. And this allows the potato to be very good both in terms of quality and taste”, notes Mr. Kapounis.
Source: ot.gr
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