The “Farmer of the Year” awards were presented yesterday at an event in the city of Xanthi.

The awards are addressed to all farmers and collective forms of primary production in Greece, with a persistent search for those who stand out for organization, professionalism and innovation.

The goal of the Farmer of the Year is to morally reward modern professionals, farmers and breeders, as well as to highlight persons, initiatives, and good practices that contribute to the development of the primary sector and the improvement of living conditions in the Greek countryside.

FARMER OF THE YEAR

Digital farmer template, o Miltiadis Harenis from Nea Gonia, Halkidiki (center photo), is the “Farmer of the Year” for 2023, winning the institution’s annual award.

Since he was a small child, Mr. Harenis started cultivating the land helping his father. Today, at the age of 51, he is model of a modern digital farmer – entrepreneurwho since 2018 has been applying the most innovative precision agriculture solutions to a holding of around 4,000 acres.

BREEDER OF THE YEAR

The 30 year old Michalis Kyriakidis from Petenos Xanthis, was this year’s winner of the “Breeder of the Year” for 2023. Continuing a family tradition, Michalis Kyriakidis built a modern livestock unit based on European standards. Today, his herd amounts to a thousand animals with a milk production of 300 tons per year.

HONORARY DISTINCTION OF THE YEAR

To an active woman from Pomakochoria of Xanthi, the Hyacinth Jouflier, was awarded this year the honorary distinction of the year, as part of the annual “Farmer of the Year” awards.

Mrs. Zoufflie from the mountain village of Alma in the municipality of Myki Xanthi was honored for her its continuous and sustained effort in tobacco cultivation.

WOMEN’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

THE Angeliki Ganidou from Lefki Xanthi was honored this year by the “Farmer of the Year” institution with the award for female entrepreneurship in agricultural production. From a very young age, Mrs. Ganidou currently cultivates a thousand acres of corn, cotton, sunflower seeds, wheat, kiwis and olives.

COLLECTIVE EFFORT OF THE YEAR

The annual award for Teamwork of the year was won by Agricultural Cooperative of Zagora Pelion. Founded in 1916, with 835 member producers and with the characteristic red apples as the main species, the Agricultural Cooperative of Zagora saw this year facilities, roads and infrastructure take a heavy hit from the catastrophic floods in Magnesia. However, as the representatives of the cooperative stated when they received the award, their unity, collegiality, vision and will were the elements that kept them standing to continue the effort.

The awards ceremony is a day of celebration for all farmers and brings together the restless farming community with elite members of the scientific community, banking industry executives, agricultural machinery market players, farm supply technocrats, analysts, consultants, scholars, politicians, local government representatives and public administration officials.