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Wednesday, 4 December 2024 | ||
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-07-16Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Greek inflation at 4.9% in JuneBRUSSELS (ANA-MPA) -- Greek inflation was unchanged at 4.9 pct in June from May, Eurostat said on Wednesday. The EU executive's statistics agency, in a report, said Eurozone inflation rose to 4.0 pct in June, from 3.7 pct in May, sharply up from 1.9 pct in June 2007. In the EU-27, the inflation rate rose to 4.3 pct in June, from 4.0 pc tin May and 2.1 pct in June 2007.Holland (2.3 pct), Germany and Portugal (3.4 pct each) recorded the lowest inflation rates in June, while Latvia (17.5 pct), Bulgaria (14.7 pct) and Lithuania (12.7 pct) recorded the highest inflation rates. The inflation rate rose in 29 member states, it was unchanged in two and fell in three countries. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo. [02] Organic cotton pilot programA total of 100 hectares of farmland will be planted with organic cotton under a pilot program in the prefecture of Karditsa, it was announced during a day seminar in the Leontario area organised by the Karditsa Prefectural Authority.Opening the event, Agricultural Biology professor Dimitris Bilalis, of the Athens Agricultural University, outlined the reasons why Karditsa prefecture had been selected for the organic cotton pilot program, adding that the organic cotton farming was being conducted in accordance with a European Union regulation providing for non use of chemicals in the soil. He explained that there has been increased demand internationally for organically-grown cotton in recent years, with interest coming particulalry from major clothing industries. Bilalis warned, howere, that there were certain problems and weaknesses at several levels which could have a negative impact, to a degree, if careful analysis of the course and development of the cultivation was not made. "Organic cotton in Karditsa could, with the proper certification and standardisation, acquire a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) status, giving the end product added value and competitiveness. Indeed, for this purpose, organic cotton cultivation could be subsidised with up to 60 euros per stremma. In addition, it could also contribute to reducing all the inflows (fertilizers, pesticides, etc.), and even reduction of watering in difficult periods of drought, such as this year's," Prof. Bilalis explained. Karditsa prefect Fotis Alexakis said that the holding of such informational events and the presentation of current farming issues by experts helps the prefecture's farmers in their search for new products, adding that the prefectural authority will provide support, both material and moral, for every such effort. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |