Thessaly Plain, Greece — Sitting in a small motorboat, farmer Babis Evangelinos glides over land he once cultivated on the fertile Thessaly plain in central Greece. The trunks of his once-thriving almond trees now stand submerged beneath floodwater, a stark reminder of nature’s unpredictability.
Evangelinos’s small plot near Lake Karla is among tens of thousands of acres of cotton fields, almond orchards, and grazing lands devastated by unprecedented flooding last year in one of Greece’s key agricultural heartlands. The floodwaters have turned vast stretches of productive land into a watery expanse, disrupting livelihoods and threatening food security.
Five months on, the waters show little sign of receding. Expensive farming equipment lies submerged and ruined. A pumping station, designed to prevent such flooding, sits marooned in what has effectively become a shallow lake. The area has transformed into a haven for wildlife rarely seen here before; pelicans and herons now soar above what was once dry farmland.
“I could never have imagined I would have to board a boat to see my land,” says Evangelinos, his gaze fixed on the sodden remains of his almond trees. “A lifetime’s work ruined, gone in three or four days of rain.”
The extreme weather event that struck Thessaly is a sobering example of the climatic challenges facing agriculture across Europe. As weather patterns become more unpredictable, farmers are grappling with the dual threats of drought and flooding. The Thessaly disaster underscores the urgent need for adaptive strategies and robust infrastructure to protect vital agricultural regions.
Agriculture forms the backbone of many European economies, and the effects of such disasters ripple beyond national borders. The loss of crops and arable land contributes to fluctuations in commodity prices, impacts global supply chains, and raises concerns about food security.
Experts advocate for increased investment in sustainable farming practices and resilient infrastructure. “We must adapt to these changing conditions,” says Dr. Maria Nikolaou, a climate scientist at the University of Athens. “This means rethinking our approach to land use, water management, and crop selection.”
For farmers like Evangelinos, the path forward is uncertain. Reclaiming the flooded lands will require significant effort and resources. Yet, amidst the challenges, there is a glimmer of hope. Community initiatives are emerging to support affected farmers, and dialogues on environmental policy reforms are gaining momentum.
The situation in Thessaly serves as a cautionary tale and a call to action for European and global stakeholders. As extreme weather events become increasingly frequent, collaborative efforts between governments, scientists, and farmers are essential to safeguard the future of agriculture.
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Flooded Greek lake an alarm to European farmers battling extreme weather
cgtn.com
