Cyprus Mail
Farmers will be getting 33 per cent less water this year for their crops.
Citing the drought, senior executive engineer for the water development department Yianna Economidou said measures had to be taken.
Speaking in the light of a farmers’ protest in Paphos, Economidou said the available resources were shared out according to the government’s policy, with drinking water needs fully met before anything else.
“We had to give 33 per cent less,” she said, adding that the farmers were aware of this.
Economidou explained that every year farmers applied for water to cover their needs and the department decided the final volume.
“It was known that we must give reduced quantities,” she pointed out.
In statements to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Economidou said there will be a problem next year if it does not rain this year.
She added that there are currently 122.4 million square metres of water in Cyprus’ main dams, which are only at 42.1 per cent of their capacity, compared to 65.6 per cent in 2023.
The department has issued a pamphlet with practical advice and good practices to help farmers better manage the water made available to them.
The public is also urged to save water.
On Monday morning, farmers in Paphos staged a protest, complaining that the water board had reduced the volume of water available for their seasonal crops and that they would “not be allowed to plant seasonal crops during the summer”.
Asprokremmos dam currently stands at 50 per cent of its capacity.
The farmers said that they were set to receive 70 per cent of last year’s volume, but the dry winter had resulted in this water already being used.
This, they said, paired with higher rents for the fields, raised the question of survival.
“We want support for ourselves, our families and our employees to live,” they said.
