Filenews 31 October 2025 - by Angelos Nikolaou
With an emphasis on the need for holistic management of water resources and the strengthening of agricultural resilience against the climate crisis, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Maria Panagiotou announced today, from the Paphos District Agricultural Office, a series of decisions of the Council of Ministers concerning both water policy and the adoption of measures to prevent fires in the countryside.
Mrs. Panagiotou, in her statements after meetings with agricultural bodies and producers of the province, stressed that addressing the challenges in irrigation passes through the overall management of the water supply, pointing out that Cyprus is experiencing one of the most difficult periods of drought in its history.
She made announcements that mark a new stage in the water and environmental policy of Cyprus, with the clear aim of moving from crisis to sustainability through investments, technological solutions and active participation of society. Referring to the proposals of the Budget for 2026 that will be discussed next Monday in the competent parliament, Ms. Panagiotou underlined that this year, for the first time, more than €140 million have been included. for the purchase of desalinated water. She noted a decision that demonstrates the Government's intention for the continuous use of desalination, differentiating the policy to date, which deprived quantities of water for irrigation.
''The drought we are going through is probably the worst our country has ever gone through. We have not embellished the data and we are not going to do it now. The projects we are doing are here and prove the dedication and hard work that is being done", said the Minister.
The Minister presented the fifth package of measures to strengthen the water supply, as approved by the Council of Ministers on October 29, noting that the aim is to permanently ensure sufficient water for water supply and irrigation, even in periods of prolonged drought.
Among the main pillars of the new water strategy are:
● End the backup use of desalination, with water needs fully covered by desalinated water, so that the dams can be made available for irrigation purposes.
● Four mobile desalination plants (Moni, Limassol Port, Kissonerga, Garyllis) in full operation by January 2026, with a daily production of 47,000 cubic meters of water.
● Three new desalination plants in Episkopi, Vasilikos and Famagusta, which will raise the total daily production to 77,000 cubic meters, increasing water supply adequacy by 32%.
● New permanent desalination plants in free Famagusta and East Limassol, with an operating horizon of 2029 and the use of Renewable Energy Sources.
● Investments of €200 million. for maintenance, network replacement and water loss reduction projects.
● Strengthening of the Water Development Department with 54 new executives from 2023 and promotion of "Dropper" in collaboration with KIOS to monitor water consumption.
● Study for the revision of the water policy until 2050, for the long-term redefinition of national planning and balancing of the water balance.
According to Ms. Panayiotou, 37% of the needs of agriculture are now covered by reclaimed water, a record percentage for Cyprus, while the goal is to further increase this percentage through new projects in Larnaca, Nicosia and Aradippou.
Measures to prevent fires and utilize abandoned land
At the same time, the Minister announced the approval of a package of measures amounting to €5.25 million. for the utilization of abandoned agricultural land, in the context of fire prevention and the strengthening of agricultural activity.
The State Aid Plan, with a budget of €4.1 million, provides:
● Aid of up to €1,414 per cent for the restoration and revival of abandoned or to be abandoned agricultural land.
● Additional support of up to €60 per ten for the preservation of restored plots with permanent dry plantations.
Through the LEADER program, with a budget of €1.15 million, the following are also funded:
● Acquisition of fire protection and fuel cleaning equipment from paraforest-based communities.
● Controlled grazing in areas that are pockets of danger for the development of fires.
Ms. Panagiotou underlined that this is the first time that such measures are funded, recognizing the decisive role of cultivated areas in the prevention and containment of fires.
''This support is a practical support to local communities, so that they can organize and strengthen the fire protection initiatives they undertake", said the Minister.
Concluding her statements, Mrs. Panagiotou called on citizens, farmers and communities to contribute to the rational management of water and the protection of the natural environment. "This effort requires time, perseverance and cooperation from all of us. The waste must stop and we must all become part of the solution. Only in this way will we have a safe water future for all," he stressed.
THE STATEMENT OF THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE IS AS FOLLOWS
We are today in the province of Paphos, a predominantly rural area, where the land, the people of production and agricultural activity are the main core of the local economy. During today's visit, meetings were held with producers and agricultural organizations of the province, with the aim of exchanging views and recording the challenges faced by the agricultural sector.
It is for this reason that I consider it an important circumstance to announce here today the decisions taken by the Council of Ministers at the meeting of October 29, regarding the utilization of abandoned agricultural land for fire protection purposes, as well as for the water issue. Both issues directly affect the whole of society, with particular pressure on the agricultural world, which experiences the effects of drought and the climate crisis on a daily basis.
Addressing irrigation challenges requires overall water management, and measures are already being taken in this direction. It is worth noting that Cyprus has historically faced prolonged periods of drought. From the arrival of Saint Helen on the island in the 4th AD until the scientific data of 2006, we know that Cyprus is in a hot spot, with an increasing frequency of droughts, heatwaves and periods of drought.
From the first moment, the government has been proceeding with dedication to the permanent solution of this timeless problem. From the first moment of Nikos Christodoulides' assumption of government of the country, the backup use of desalination plants was terminated, taking the political decision that with the full coverage of the needs of the water supply from desalination, the dams should be left for our irrigators.
From April 2024 until today, the Council of Ministers has taken four packages of measures which have already been implemented, bringing tangible results.
Indicatively, I mention:
• By January 2026, all 4 mobile desalination plant projects announced in March 2025 (Moni, Port, Kissonerga, Garyllis) will be fully operational, including those received from the United Arab Emirates and put into operation in record time, in just 3 months. These units will add daily amounts of water of at least 47,000 cubic meters per day to the system.
• Water infrastructure projects with a total value of €200 million are being implemented – the largest amount ever allocated for maintenance and projects to reduce losses, improve water supply and replace the very outdated network we received.
• At the same time, 31 projects are underway to strengthen the water supply of communities, with the aim of completing them by 2026.
• So far, 13 successful wells have been drilled and shielded by the Geological Survey Department, while the WDD has completed 23 projects for the utilization of new or existing wells, while promoting the study of another 11 projects.
• The serious problem of losses is being effectively managed for the first time by this government at two levels:
A. On our initiative, the NGOs were asked to cost and record the necessary projects to reduce the losses of the networks that were under the responsibility of the Water Supply Councils. For 2025, the projects for the reduction of losses and the replacement of pipelines, totalling €10.5 million, were initially approved, which could be completed within one year and had the greatest positive impact on the water balance. The same happened with €1 million projects for Communities. Our goal is for this action to continue.
B. In addition to the financial support of the EDCs, from July 2025 the implementation of the first in-depth study is underway that will demonstrate the actual losses and all the corrections that need to be made in order to permanently correct the problem on the basis of a stable programming.
• In October 2024, the 2050 Water Policy Review Study was launched, which will redefine national planning and balance the water balance in the long term. Therefore, we will know what projects need to be done so that the next ones do not experience what we are currently experiencing. A study by the University of Cyprus is also underway on the strategic crops in which we must invest, adjusting our policy towards water-intensive crops.
• We have simplified the procedures for the installation of small private desalination plants and from March 2025 a Grant Scheme for the Installation of Small Private Desalination Plants for hotels and local authorities, amounting to €3 million, is in force. The aim is to cover, with simplified procedures, their water needs, without burdening the government's water supply systems. So far, 13 applications have been submitted to the WDD.
• Regarding the human resources of the WDD, which has been talked about lately, I would like to say that in the last 3 years, from 2023 until today, it has been strengthened by 54 people. A significant number if one considers that for 12 years, from 2010 to 2022, the WDD was strengthened with 37 people. Of course, its staffing continues.
• In collaboration with KIOS, we have set up the operation of the "Dropper" so that everyone can see if their water consumption is within satisfactory limits or overconsuming.
So these are just a small sample of the measures that are already on track, in the context of the integrated planning for the water sector.
On Wednesday, October 29, the Council of Ministers, continuing with dedication the permanent solution of this long-standing problem, has proceeded to approve a new, fifth package of measures for the water sector, with the aim of further strengthening the water supply of our country.
Specifically, the Cabinet at the meeting of October 29, has approved:
- 1. The Water Governance Reform Action Plan. We recognised the need to improve water governance so that there is an integrated water management mechanism. This reform will allow us to obtain enhanced supervision, improve the technical and administrative capacity of water supply agencies and speed up the implementation of infrastructure projects.
- 2. The location of the permanent desalination plants in free Famagusta and East Limassol, in addition to the five existing ones, is finalized. Preliminary studies will begin within the year with the aim of operating the units at the end of 2029. These units will also operate with RES. Their operation will cover 100% of the water supply needs from desalinated water.
- 3. The operation of at least 3 more mobile desalination units is added to the system, which will be installed in Episkopi, Vasilikos and free Famagusta. With the full operation of these units (Kissonerga, Garyllis, Moni, Port, Episkopi, Vasilikos, Free Famagusta), a total of at least 77,000 cubic meters per day will be added to the system, a quantity that exceeds the total production of the two permanent desalination units of Vasilikos and Paphos.
With these quantities, therefore, we are increasing the production of asphalt water by more than 32%, achieving within a few months, a significant increase in water supply, continuing with steady steps towards our goal of meeting the country's water supply needs from desalinated water.
In addition to the above, this year for the first time, the Budget proposals for 2026 have included more than €140 million for the purchase of desalinated water. This decision demonstrates the Government's intention for the continuous use of desalination, differentiating the policy to date, which deprived quantities of water for irrigation. At the same time, in addition to the important water supply projects that are on track for implementation, important projects for the use of reclaimed water (which is an important continuous non-conventional source of irrigation water) with the most important ones:
1. The Larnaca Reclaimed Water Use Project – Tersefanos Dam.
2. The West Nicosia (Anthoupolis) Reclaimed Water Use Project and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
3. Completion of works on the Aradippou dam to meet the irrigation needs of the area for land consolidation.
4. Continuation of works for the completion of the irrigation networks in the Solea Irrigation Project.
5. Works for the upgrading of existing Irrigation Projects of the WDD such as the networks in Kokkkinochoria, Larnaca, Akrotiri, Germasogeia and Paphos.
6. Increased financial tools for effective treatment of the problems of the Irrigation Departments which are outside the competence and responsibility of the WDD.
7. The Irrigation Project in the Diarizos Valley.
8. Irrigation projects to meet needs in West Nicosia.
9. Projects for the expansion of the use of reclaimed water produced by urban Wastewater Treatment Plants.
10. Operation and maintenance of central pipelines for the transport of irrigation water and reclaimed water, hundreds of kilometers long throughout Cyprus.
11. Operation and maintenance of irrigation projects and projects for the use of reclaimed water.
I note that through the projects and provisions we received, the reclaimed water increased by about 10%, covering 37% of the needs of agriculture (based on 2024 data). This is the largest increase and the largest percentage given to agriculture in reclaimed water.
Everything that has been mentioned is not just announcements and plans, but projects that have already been put on track for implementation. It is not easy to deal with such a big, complex and timeless problem in a few months. But the planning is there, we have secured the necessary financial resources, we are implementing and moving forward consistently.
Our goal, I repeat, is the permanent solution that will ensure that if it does not rain, Cyprus will have sufficient water for every citizen, every community, every producer. This effort requires time, perseverance, patience and above all continuous struggle and cooperation from all of us, stakeholders, the local community, and the citizens themselves. The drought we are going through is probably the worst our country has ever gone through. We did not embellish the data and we are not going to do it now. The projects we do are here and they prove the dedication and hard work that is being done. In order to be able to continue with positive results, it is imperative that we stop wasting and that we all become part of the solution. Only in this way will we have a secure water future for all.
In addition, following the decisions regarding the water issue, the Council of Ministers, taking into account the challenges brought by climate change and the increased threats from fires, also approved a comprehensive package of measures totalling €5.25 million.
The aim of this initiative is to provide substantial incentives to farmers, citizens, but also to communities, for the revival and utilization of abandoned agricultural land, and not only, contributing to the prevention of fires in forest and rural areas and to the effective protection of the natural environment and production.
The decision aims to reduce the risk of fires spreading through the reduction of biomass and fuel, the restoration and revival of abandoned agricultural land, as well as the implementation of controlled grazing actions in areas of paraforested areas.
More specifically, through a State Aid Plan, with a budget of €4,100,000, the following actions are promoted:
a) Restoration and Revival of abandoned or to be abandoned agricultural land with financial support of €500/cent for dry permanent plantations at altitudes from 200 to 499 meters, €1,090/cent for vines at altitudes up to 799 meters and €1,414/cent for vines at altitudes ≥800 meters. The aid will cover 65% of the costs of grubbing-up and replanting and the total budget of the action amounts to €3,500,000, as De Minimis aid.
b) Aid for additional agri-environmental commitments for the maintenance of restored plots with permanent dry plantations. The aid amounts to up to €60/ten, with a maximum total expenditure of €600,000.
After the owners of the abandoned agricultural land take advantage of these actions, they will be able to participate in agri-environmental and other measures of the CAP, and receive support that reaches up to €300 per ten for vines and up to €86 for other dry crops.
In addition to the above, through LEADER I am promoted with a total budget of €1,150,000 and funding up to 100% on:
a) Acquisition of fire protection and fuel cleaning equipment from clusters of forest communities and organized local bodies.
b) Controlled grazing on abandoned areas that are pockets of risk for the development of fires.
It is worth noting that for the first time these measures receive funding. This proves the practical support of the government but also the recognition of the important role played by cultivated areas in the protection of the environment and the prevention of fires. At the same time, this support is a practical support to local communities, so that they can organize and strengthen the fire protection initiatives they undertake.
Finally, I repeat that addressing the challenges in irrigation passes through the overall management of the water supply and the increase of reclaimed water. The biggest enemy of our agriculture was and is insecurity. With our plan to cover 100% of the water supply from desalination, to end the backup and on a case-by-case basis use of desalination, to dispose of dam water to irrigators, to increase reclaimed water and to comply with European directives (Cyprus has been in violation since 2012 for sewerage), we are giving a future to our agriculture by ending insecurity. Cypriot farmers know well what it means to deprive them of water. From the 1990s until today they have only twice received all the water they need. Farmers are not the poor relative of water and must stop being treated in this way. The solution of irrigation goes through the solution of water supply. It is not easy, I repeat, nor can it be done in a few months. But it is imperative, it is the planning we are already implementing, it is our investment in the primary sector.
