The government has €454 million of funding available for Cyprus’ farmers through the European Union’s common agricultural policy, Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou said on Friday.
Speaking at the opening of the International Potato Festival in the village of Xylophagou, she said the government is “not standing idly by”, and that the funds are available to “support and strengthen our farmers, ensuring sustainable solutions for the future of the sector.”
To this end, she said, the government is continuing with its strategic plan for the agriculture sector, aiming to “focus on strengthening structures such as producers’ organisations and promoting short supply chains and local markets”.
She said this will “strengthen the relationship and mutual respect between farmer and consumer”.
She said that at the same time, the government is “focusing on the protection of natural resources and the promotion of more environmentally friendly practices”, which, she said, “ensures the health of both consumers and producers”.
Additionally, she said the government is “moving forward with reforms” including its aim to “tackle unfair trade practices in the supply chain”.
With this in mind, she pointed out the e-kofini online platform, launched in May, which she said “aims to reduce the price difference between producer and consumer, offering better information to consumers”.
Panayiotou’s statements at the International Potato Festival come off the back of her announcement of seven agricultural priorities to be delivered by 2027 under the common agricultural policy.
The first priority is a total of €3 million worth of investment in areas with an altitude of 400 metres above sea level and higher, as well as other communities covered by the mountain community development strategy.
The second is a total of €500,000 worth of investments in the Tillyria area, while the third is a planned €3m worth of investment in renewable energy sources, as well as in other methods to reduce energy consumption on farms.
The fourth priority is €2m worth of investment in active crop protection systems, with an emphasis on anti-hail and anti-rain protection.
The fifth is a €500,000 grant for the purchase of artificial lactation devices for goats and sheep, which will speed up and make more efficient the milking process.
The sixth priority is the purchase of €500,000 worth of agricultural nets for farms in mountainous areas for the safe production of vegetables, while the seventh and final priority is a €500,000 investment to promote the implementation of smart irrigation systems.
The promotion of smart irrigation systems comes at a vital point for Cyprus, with the island currently experiencing its 10th worst year of rainfall since 1900.
