The European Union with financing that exceeds the 770 million Euro yearly supports the cotton cultivation. Greece and Spain are the sole countries in Europe of cotton production, with our country holding the 80% of the total backing of Europe. According to the decision of the qualified officers of the E.U. cotton will continue to strengthen for at least six more years.

The cotton cultivation in our country was developed after our entrance in European Community and especially in the decade of '90.So even if in 1980 the production of cottonseed was 115.000 tones, in 1990 became 268.000 and in 2001, 455.000 tones.

The continuance of the cultivation is secured also from the high-leveled substructure that Greek farmers have and from the industry, so much in mechanical equipment as far as in Knowing how.

Almost 80.000 Greek farmers have as main occupation the cotton cultivation.
In comparison with other products of wide cultivation, cotton is the only one that provides a rewarding income to Greek farmer (wheatι, corn, rice etc)

Cotton cultivation and handling comes under strict rules because of the backing of the E.U. The whole procedure is being controlled by the cotton organization (O.P.E.K.E.P.E.). The quality of Greek cotton is very good that's why there is convenience in its disposal from the ginning operation. In this way we succeed to export the 65%of the production even in countries that have their own cotton-extraction. (USA, TURKEY).
The working circle of ginning department and oil unit is round about 200 billion yearly.( 587 million)

They take action in 57 companies with 81 production units from which 10 of them are co-operative. Most of them are small family enterprises. The competition among ginning lies mainly in the market of seed cotton from the producers. So a big advantage is the fast payment of the producers and the great aggressiveness of absorption in the period of ingathering. (October-November)

In addition the competition is smaller in sales because of the easy disposal of cotton in international market.