Water Mismanagement in Agriculture: a Case Study of Greece. Starting with “how” and "why"

The present study concerns the plain of Arta, located in the northwestern part of Greece, in one of the most surplus water areas of the country, where the highest annual precipitation occurs. However, despite the region's water wealth, the plain is experiencing water shortages, posing challenges to agricultural productivity. This study delves into the examination of this paradox with the objective of offering insights into fundamental inquiries such as "What are the annual irrigation requirements of the plain and how are they distributed throughout the year?" “Is the water supplied by the collective irrigation network adequate to meet these requirements?" and "What proportion of irrigation needs are met by groundwater?". In the absence of data and measurements, a methodology was therefore developed for the approximation of the water balance, using software tools and drawing on the experience and knowledge of farmers, thus creating the basis for optimizing agricultural production and addressing management issues. To calculate the water requirements, the CROPWAT 8.0 software was used, utilizing the climatic data from six meteorological stations in the region, while a qualitative survey was conducted to estimate the rate of groundwater consumption, targeting a group of stakeholders and a group of farmers. The crops' annual water requirements were calculated to be 49.1 hm3, with drilled water meeting 41.1% of these needs. The public irrigation system's water supply is sufficient to meet the crops' annual water requirements. Water shortages and over-extraction of groundwater provide substantial management difficulties that need to be tackled. These challenges present significant chances for enhancement and growth and are essential for the region’s economic and social sustainability.