A traditional route of transhumant flocks in Northern Greece : Cultural aspects and economic implications
2016
Ragkos, A | Karatassiou, M | Georgousis, Z | Parissi, Z | Lagka, V
Transhumance is still practiced in Greece, however a general trend of intensification of production often compels transhumant farmers to adopt innovations and modern standards. Within this context, only vertical flock movements are done by foot, while for longer distances trucks are generally used. This study presents the traditional route which was followed in the past by Sarakatsans – an ethnic group inextricably woven with the transhumant system in Greece, who spent winter in the plains of Chalkidiki (Central Macedonia) and moved to the mountain Kaimaktsalan in Western Macedonia in the summer (almost 250 km). Drawing from personal interviews of families who experienced these movements, we detect aspects of the everyday life of these people. Each stop (“konaki”) in this 24-day movement was linked with a particular chore: cheese making and selling, raw milk sales, shearing etc. The economic implications from the potential use of these traditional routes nowadays are two-fold. First, using partial budgeting, we conclude that considerable savings occur if farmers avoid the costly use of trucks; second, the costs of re- establishment and maintenance of these routes could be counterbalanced by alternative uses or the generation of environmental services
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