Filenews 23 June 2025 - by Angelos Nicolaou
Amid the ongoing debate in the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on the new legislation concerning water conservation, four of the five agricultural organisations in Cyprus – PEK, Panagrotikos, New Agricultural Movement and Eurorural – have sent a joint letter to the Commission, expressing their support for the draft law under discussion.
The agricultural organization EKA, which is affiliated with AKEL, did not co-sign the letter, but the intervention of the other organizations is an indication of a broader acceptance of the need to tighten the framework for the management of the country's water resources.
The letter underlines that "the consequences of water scarcity disproportionately affect the agricultural sector", which, as it is pointed out, is suffering cuts in the supply of water for irrigation, while in other sectors – but also in households – the supply remains uninterrupted.
The organisations are calling for stricter measures, saying that wasting water from the use of rubber in urban areas "is a challenge for farmers". They also emphasize the need to form a collective water consciousness, while advocating the abolition of the old Water Saving Regulations (Special Measures), supporting a more modern and effective framework.
Regarding the implementation of the legislation, they state that they agree with the purchase of services to strengthen the Provincial Self-Communication Organizations, as the latter do not have sufficient staff. However, they clarify that they disagree with "photolabeling" models and ask for targeted and limited-time contracts with specific fees.
Also important are their proposals for the utilization of seawater in swimming pools, at least in coastal areas, as well as for the gradual reduction of relaxations enjoyed by golf courses, with the aim of reducing water consumption from dams.
In the meantime, according to information, the Minister of Agriculture has committed to come back soon with a comprehensive proposal regarding the issue of swimming pools, after studying relevant practices applied in other countries with similar conditions.
The intervention of agricultural organizations strengthens the government's effort to upgrade legislation and strengthen water awareness. The framework under development – with the aim of sustainable water management – is considered a crucial step in addressing the effects of climate change and protecting Cyprus' natural resources.
