Karasu irrigation project launched in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace

A major irrigation project drawing water from the Nestos (Karasu) River has been officially launched in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, aiming to strengthen agricultural production and directly benefit around 5,000 farmers. The project will irrigate 56,000 acres of farmland in the İskeçe plain.

The inauguration ceremony, held in İskeçe on Thursday, September 4, was attended by Minister of Rural Development and Food Kostas Tsiaras, Secretary General for Union Funds and Infrastructure Argiro Zerva, and numerous local officials and guests.

Regional Governor Christodoulos Topsidis highlighted the importance of the project not only for agriculture but also for sustainable water management in the face of climate change.

“The Karasu irrigation project offers a permanent solution to the chronic drought problem in our region. Irrigation works in villages such as Kalfalar (Mirodato), Bulustra (Avdira), Veloni (İğnelli), Mandra, and Pezoula (Karapazarlı) will provide farmers with stability and security for the future,” he said.

Topsidis stressed the project’s economic impact as well:

“The primary sector cannot survive on temporary solutions. We need long-term investments that secure farmers’ futures and strengthen competitiveness. This project does exactly that.”

He thanked Minister Tsiaras and Deputy Minister of Economy Nikos Papathanasis for their role, while paying tribute to former Agriculture Minister Alexandros Kondos, who initiated the first steps back in 2008, and the late former Governor and Mayor of Xanthi Giorgos Pavlidis, calling the project “the realization of his vision.”

€300 Million Pipeline of New Projects

Topsidis also announced preparations for 13 additional projects across the region aimed at strengthening agricultural infrastructure. With a combined budget exceeding €300 million, these proposals—soon to be submitted to the Ministry of Rural Development—include modernization of irrigation networks, installation of new systems, and energy-efficient infrastructure investments.