The rice fields of Central Macedonia stretch along the Axios River. This cultivation began to flourish from the mid-1950s and today covers 70-75% of Greece’s domestic rice production. Specifically, the rice fields in the wider plain of western Thessaloniki now cover approximately 25,000 hectares, and rice farming in the area plays an important role both in local biodiversity and in maintaining the ecosystem’s balance. Various rare bird species and other protected animals have been recorded here, including the European beaver and the Eurasian otter.
Rice in Greece is primarily an export product. Most of the rice quantities are exported to Turkey, Balkan countries, and the Middle East. Rice belongs to the group of cereals that form the basis of our diet. It contains approximately 90% simple and complex carbohydrates, making it an important source of energy.