Filenews 12 November 2021
The Government acted swiftly and showed quick reflexes in support of the agricultural sector during the pandemic and in the recent fires, said the Minister of Agriculture, Costas Kadis.
Speaking on Friday in the context of a press conference to present the work of his Ministry, the challenges and the projects planned, he also referred to the support of the agricultural sector, saying that especially during the pandemic, the Government moved swiftly and proceeded with 41 support measures amounting to €29 million. He also said that the Government showed quick reflexes during the summer fires in mountainous Larnaca and Limassol with inspection and recording of damages the next day and the start of the first flood protection works two months later.
He also mentioned that on the issue of the climate crisis, from next autumn it is estimated that the measures and solutions proposed by a large group of scientists will begin to be implemented in the context of the Nicosia initiative on the climate crisis in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean region. Mr Kadis said that the initiative received credit at the Glasgow summit where he also met with many ministers from countries in the region. He did not want to expand and reveal the measures proposed by scientists, saying that an action plan will take its final form in February with a Ministerial Conference and early next autumn will be ratified by a meeting of the leaders of the countries of the region.
Presenting the work and challenges of his Ministry, in the presence of the Commissioner for Agricultural Payments, MPs, the Deputy Government Representative and the heads of the various departments and services of the Ministry, Mr. Kadis noted that the vision is based on the STRATEGIC GOAL of the EU for a green economy and concerns a green, clean and sustainable Cyprus with the principles of sustainable development in all sectors of activity and economy.
According to the Minister, the main challenges concern, among others, the circular economy, biodiversity, the farm-to-fork principle that ensures safe products for consumers and fair production and friendly way for our farmers and climate change, adding that for more effective management the Ministry by decision of the Minister proceeds to the operation of the General Directorate of Environment under the umbrella of which these challenges will be.
Mr. Kadis said that in 2022 the ministry's work is covered with a budget of €343 million, adding that with the exception of the Ministry of Transport, which is responsible for Public Works, the Ministry of Agriculture is a champion in the implementation of development projects.
There are currently 53 projects worth €420 million, and a further 19 under the recovery and resilience plan, of which 14 are development projects with €200 million budget and implementation horizon in 2026.
The projects concern, among others, the management of solid and livestock waste, fire protection projects, climate change projects, support for farmers and protection of the marine environment.
At another point in his presentation, Mr. Kadis said that within the framework of the CAP there are planned projects with targeted support and that since the beginning of the programming period, more than €600 million have been given, among others, to the primary sector, extensive subsidies, support for the wine sector, beekeepers and other producers.
Regarding the 2023-2027 period, he said that all projects will be governed by the principles of the green deal with a budget of €467 million. He noted that small Cyprus had contributed to the formation of the CAP and played its own role with strategic alliances with other countries with similar interests and exerted pressure to include specific elements for small and island countries.
During his presentation, the Minister also referred to the reforms that have been achieved or are in the process of being formulated, such as, among others, the improvement of the farmers' register, the introduction of a risk management system, the legislation on the conservation of raw material stocks, the legislation on unfair practices, the award of the Cypriot product label and the revision of the operation of popular markets.
He also referred to the safeguarding of halloumi and the efforts to integrate as many agricultural products as PDO as possible, as well as to the projects and reforms for veterinary and public health as well as animal welfare. These included the upgrading of controls in slaughterhouses, the movement of livestock farms from Kato Polemidia, the rehabilitation of the communities of Orounta-Mitsero due to the poor management of livestock waste with a plan of 130 million euros.
Mr. Kadis referred to the projects for the rational use of antibiotics, an area in which Cyprus is facing a problem and said that the use has decreased by 15% in recent years but other steps need to be taken.
He also referred to the animal welfare reforms, saying that significant steps and leaps have been made with a comprehensive framework and an amendment to the basic law providing for penalties, improvement of pet detention conditions, regulation of detention in farms and others.
On water policy, the Minister spoke about challenges in an area with the effects of the climate crisis visible, saying that projects have been made to manage water needs in a sustainable way, modern methods for water leaks are applied and a revised strategy for drought is being implemented.
On environmental issues, the Minister said that its preservation and sustainability is a key objective and that the biggest challenge concerns waste management, where things admitted went wrong, there was fragmentation of services and entanglement and condemnations. He stressed that the goal is a coherent strategy with specific policies that will change the image of Cyprus.
He referred to the new institutional framework in the national legislation for circular economy, for the management of single-use plastics, the sorting at source, the Pay as I throw system, the management of packaging such as bottles and cans with the aim of cleaning up the image of the countryside by dumping garbage, various infrastructure projects in the local government, reducing solid waste and raising public awareness as well as restoring old wastelands and creating more green spots and corners.
For the management of forest fires, Mr. Kadis said that projects are included in the recovery and resilience plan by covering the needs of vehicles and machinery for immediate intervention for extinguishing not more than ten minutes, the configuration of a tramway for small firefighting aircraft in Mamari, the upgrading of the flying means unit.
Mr. Kadis also spoke about the national plan for Akamas that had been pending for years, saying that he is optimistic and that next year will be decisive for the region.
He also referred to tree planting issues, the projects for fishing and support of the sector, which in the period 2014-2021 amount to €6 million. and to €2 million for aquaculture and other improvement projects. For the field of geology, mining and meteorology, he said that one of the emblematic projects is the beautification of the Amiantos mine.
