Cypriot farmers complain to minister about water and subsidy delays — Cyprus Mail
Farmers in Cyprus complained to Agriculture Minister Christos Senekis about water allocation and delays in subsidy payments during his visit to a farmers’ market in Strovolos. Producers expressed concern about a possible water shortage and called for increased supplies for agricultural producers, Cyprus Mail reports.
Water supply plans
Senekis said that the situation with water resources is better this year. According to him, the authorities will try to meet producers’ needs in the near future while ensuring sufficient water reserves for the coming years.
Commenting on the cancellation of certain desalination projects, the minister said that the strategy for increasing water reserves is a dynamic process that is adjusted according to needs. According to him, the authorities have arrived at a strategic plan intended to meet all of the country’s water supply needs, and if there are reserves in reservoirs, priority will be given to farmers.
Maria, a farmer from Xyliatos, said that due to a lack of water, her field of “golden apples” did not bear fruit, while the available water was barely enough to preserve the avocados. According to her, she paid €1,000 for water last year.
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Subsidies and farmers’ markets
Another farmer asked about the status of subsidies for the Vizakia area, which, according to him, had been promised because of drought and an empty reservoir. Senekis replied that a subsidy plan is being prepared and the relevant applications are being considered. He also noted that a strategic support plan was submitted to the Council of Ministers last year.
During the visit, the minister stressed that farmers’ markets reduce the gap between the price received by the producer and the price paid by the buyer. Strovolos Mayor Stavros Stavrinidis said that local authorities seek to modernize such markets. The market in Strovolos was moved behind the GSP stadium in 2019 to a larger area.
Christos Papapetrou, president of the Cypriot agricultural organizations Pek, called the Strovolos market one of the country’s open markets that were reorganized in line with new legislation. He noted that the aim is to provide consumers with access to quality products directly from producers, preserve farmers’ incomes, and maintain lower prices for buyers.
