Agriculture has always been an important sector of the Cypriot economy. Following the Turkish invasion of 1974 and the occupation of 38 percent of the country’s territory, including Cyprus' most valuable land and water resources, an accelerated declining trend set in, which is still continuing today. Also, due to the rapid growth of other sectors of the economy, agriculture today contributes less than five percent to the gross domestic product (GDP) and about ten percent to gainful employment. Nevertheless, agriculture  continues to be significant for the Cypriot economy It helps to maintain the environment and a good proportion of the population in rural areas; it contributes to food security and supplies the local market, including the country’s sizeable tourist industry, with good quality fresh produce, and continues to earn an important amount of foreign currency through exports, which still account for over 20 percent of all domestic exports. In 1996 the total agricultural output was CY£ 346 million (597 EUR), of which crop production represented CY£ 176 million (303 EUR), livestock production CY£ 144 million (248 EUR) and forestry, fisheries and other production CY£ 26 million (45 EUR).