ABSTRACT
The Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) of the European Union provides a classification of farm holdings according to their production structure. The FADN typology is based on two essential economic characteristics of the holdings in each member country, that of farm type and the economic size of the holding. Greek agriculture is characterized by an unfavorable farm structure with numerous small and fragmented farm holdings. The main rural development institutions in Greece include the Ministry of National Economy, the Ministry of Agriculture, agricultural cooperatives and various semi-independent or independent bodies. The range of institutions acting and affecting economic life in rural areas extends to semi-independent bodies such as the Greek National Tourism Organization, the Greek Organization for Small and Medium Sized Manufacturing Enterprises and Handicrafts, the Hellenic Industrial Bank and many other smaller or localized institutions.
