During the 1980s and 1990s, Greek cotton farmers prospered with large European Union subsidies, but that aid fell away as the bloc switched its help to African growers. As European elections begin, the farmers, in common with many other Greeks, are losing their enthusiasm for the EU and are increasingly sceptical about its policies. Yannis Vagkos is a worried man. For five generations, his family has been growing cotton on the plains outside the southern Greek town of Livadia. Now, as a new crop is coming up, he wonders whether he can carry on much longer. "We used to call cotton white gold," he says, "but comparing cotton farming now with the way it was in the 1990s is like comparing day and night." He says the prices he can get for his cotton are barely one-sixth of what they were in the early 1990s, while the cost of inputs such as fertiliser and diesel has risen dramatically.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Greek cotton farmers prospered with large European Union subsidies, but that aid fell away as the bloc switched its help to African growers.
As European elections begin, the farmers, in common with many other Greeks, are losing their enthusiasm for the EU and are increasingly sceptical about its policies.
Yannis Vagkos is a worried man.
For five generations, his family has been growing cotton on the plains outside the southern Greek town of Livadia.
Now, as a new crop is coming up, he wonders whether he can carry on much longer.
"We used to call cotton white gold," he says, "but comparing cotton farming now with the way it was in the 1990s is like comparing day and night."
He says the prices he can get for his cotton are barely one-sixth of what they were in the early 1990s, while the cost of inputs such as fertiliser and diesel has risen dramatically.
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