Filenews 17 November 2021 - by Pambos Vasilas
The prolonged drought observed in almost all regions is the worst thing that could happen at this time in the rural world. The mandatory use of water from irrigation systems such as the South Pipeline Project or from privately owned boreholes is exacerbating the already dire economic situation of farmers, at a time when the prices of oil, fertilizers and other basic agricultural necessities have skyrocketed.
The prolonged drought, according to the provincial secretary of PEK in Famagusta, Adamos Kaikis, burdens the Cypriot economy and the farmers' budget daily with tens of thousands of euros and everyone's wish is that it will end as soon as possible.
The representative of the rural world stressed that as far as potato producers are concerned, those who ventured to plant in September and October will not have satisfactory results due to the high temperatures and recent winds, while they were burdened financially with the increased quantities of water that had to use to irrigate. Problems that will also be faced by those potato producers who plant these days, as the time limits for planting the potatoes for winter harvest are running out. "These potato plantations should immediately be equipped with irrigation systems, as the drought and high temperatures, unfortunately, continue," Adamos Kaikis said. He added that "all this was not enough, the good weather conditions prevailing in many European countries increase the possibility that Cypriot potatoes will face for the second consecutive year problems in their marketing, a development that would be "a disaster in the already disastrous situation given that potato producers find themselves in".
Wheat producers and other sectors
Large increases in fuel, fertilizers, seeds and other agricultural necessities were not enough, those wheat producers who ventured to sow their fields around the last ten days are already in danger of total destruction, as as the days go by and it does not rain, the seed in the dry soil is destroyed qualitatively, while it is stolen by ants and various other insects. "But even those wheat producers who have not sowed, are now troubled as the time to do so and have success in their production is narrowing," Mr. Kakis also said.
There is no sector of open or closed cultivation (greenhouses) that is not adversely affected during this period, due to the prolonged lack of rain, stressed the secretary of PEK Famagusta. Pointing out at the same time, that this situation and the unexpected economic cost it brings, finds the rural world even more weakened almost in its entirety, due to the serious problems it faced in the last two years, due to the coronavirus.
Water Department: Review in March
The Director of the Water Development Department, Panagiota Hadjigeorgiou, told "F" that for the time being nothing changes and the water status (i.e. the data in the dams of Cyprus) will be reviewed again next March, when there will be the data of the months of January and February, which are considered the most important in terms of rainfall. At the same time, however, Mrs Hadjigeorgiou called on the rural world, where it can save irrigation water, to do so now.
