Filenews 16 July 2024 - by Natasha Christoforou
The reduced quantities of water reaching the farmers of Kokkinochoria and Pafos are causing strong reactions, with producers preparing warning actions next Monday, July 22.
As the representative of the farmers, Andreas Karyos, told philenews, the producers of Kokkinochoria will gather next Monday morning in the area of Xylofagou, while a similar protest will take place in the district of Pafos in a place to be announced within the week.
The protest will be peaceful in nature, however, if the farmers' demand for an increase in the quantities of water provided to them is not heeded, then they will take, according to Karyos, "more drastic and forceful measures". The farmers' representative sounded a warning bell for the future of the primary sector, saying that from 2022 water reductions began from the southern pipeline and in Paphos from the Asprokremmos dam.
"This year water reductions have reached 60%. In the first semester they gave us 14 hours a week and now they give us 4 hours a week. In the area of Kokkinochoria they give us a total of 6 million cubic metres of water and 2 million were left for the second half. Now there is water from boreholes, which is dangerous because the water is brackish.
There is no other source of water," Karyos said, indicating that if the situation continues as it is, then production of many agricultural products will be reduced, which will increase prices for consumers. "In a meeting with the minister and the Water Department we have explained the serious problem that this decision will create in the primary sector, with consequences for farmers, consumers, but also for the quantities exported, mainly in potato cultivation.
However, they continue without studying the damage they will cause to farmers and do not accept our suggestion that we should give some more water to get through the second half of the year. They have left us at God's mercy. They don't care about agriculture at all." Farmers have called for an increase in water supply from the southern pipeline by 2 million cubic meters and by 1 million from the dam of Asprokremmos.
"If they meet our demand, we will try to strengthen the scarce water we have with that of the southern pipeline and have products at bearable prices."
