Agriculture’s role in the economy is small and decreasing, but more important in some regions. Farming contributes just over 2% of GDP, but nearly 5% of employment, although with marked regional differences, contributions rising in the South to over 4% of GDP and nearly 10% of employment [1, 2] (Figure 3.14.1). Horticultural and permanent crops play a dominant role in the farming sector. Horticultural crops; olive groves; and grapes account for nearly 45% of total agricultural value, compared to 11% for cereals and almost 35% for livestock [1]. Horticultural and permanent crop production dominate in the South, with livestock and cereals more prominent in the North. While the total volume of agricultural production declined by 2% over the period 1990-92 to 2002-04, the trend in input use was more varied: pesticides rose by 8%; inorganic nitrogen fertilisers by 5%; and farm energy by 10%; although inorganic phosphorus fertiliser use declined by –26% (Figure 3.14.2). With the area farmed also declining by nearly 14% over this period, this suggests that the intensity of agricultural production has been increasing: both in terms of inputs used per unit volume of output; and per hectare.