An autopsy by the Deputy Governor of Agricultural Economy Stavros Tzedakis and the Deputy Governor of Lasithi Yiannis Androulakis in the olive groves of the Lasithi Region that have been affected by the prolonged drought took place yesterday, Tuesday, November 19, in the presence of the head of ELGA Crete Nikos Daskalakis, the head of the rural development directorate PEL Maria Fundi and the head of quality and of phytosanitary control PEL Angeliki Karatarakis.

During the autopsy, the serious water shortage problem that mainly affects eastern Crete and has created intense water stress in thousands of olive trees, especially in non-irrigated areas. The unprecedented phenomenon manifests itself in the best case with the shrinking of the olive fruit, while where there is intense water stress fruit drop and mainly extensive drying of the vegetative parts are observed. With these data, this year’s production is unfortunately expected to be reduced, several thousand olive trees will need several years to return to full production, while the situation will worsen as the drought on the island continues.

It is the concern of the Region of Crete, in collaboration with the scientific committee that has been set up to manage the extensive problems caused in olive cultivation, to document the file and formulate a proposal based on the extent of the problem in order to seek solutions for compensation from the state and the European Union.

As part of the visit-autopsy, the Deputy Regional Governor Stavros Tzedakis and the Deputy Regional Governor of Lasithi Yiannis Androulakis met with the Mayor of Ierapetra Manolis Fragoulis at the Bramianon Dam and with the Mayor of Sitia Giorgos Zervakis at the Municipality