The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou, announced new actions through the EU's LEADER program for the development of rural areas, during her address at the 1st Troodos Agricultural Conference entitled "Is there a Future for Troodos?", which took place on Friday at the "Rodon" hotel in Agros, on the initiative of the Agricultural Organization Euroagrotikos and under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The Minister noted that the actions will concern the organization of cultural events, the creation and modernization of agritourism businesses, the construction of small-scale public infrastructure, as well as the implementation of cooperation actions.
As she mentioned, during the previous programming period, through LEADER, 10 small-scale public projects were financed in the region, with a total public expenditure of €1.3 million, 5 private projects with a public expenditure of €600,000, as well as 7 cooperation projects with a total public expenditure of €265,000.
She also said that appropriations of about €3,1 million have been allocated to the Local Action Group "Troodos Region Community Development Company Ltd".
"Recently, we proceeded with the announcement of the large investment measure, with a total budget of €60 million, as well as the special intervention to support the first installation of young farmers, amounting to €7.5 million," she said.
She clarified that for both interventions, the deadline for submitting applications has been extended until May 29, 2026.
"Troodos is not just a mountainous geographical area of Cyprus. It is a carrier of history, culture, biodiversity and agricultural knowledge that is passed down from generation to generation," the Minister said.
"It is a typical example of the challenges that many European mountainous regions are facing today, namely demographic shrinkage, climate change, pressure on natural resources and the need to renew their production model," added Ms. Panagiotou.
In the European context, the Minister of Agriculture underlined that the answer to the modern issues of the countryside is a sustainable, multifunctional and resilient rural development, which links production with innovation, environmental protection and the creation of added value in local communities.
As she noted, the Common Agricultural Policy 2023–2027, the European Green Deal and the EU biodiversity and "farm to fork" strategies recognize that agriculture cannot operate in isolation, but must be interconnected with tourism, culture and local entrepreneurship.
"A classic example is wine tourism, which is emerging as one of the most dynamic and qualitative drivers of development for Troodos," said the Minister.
The Minister of Agriculture underlined that wine tourism contributes decisively to the diversification of agricultural income, the creation of jobs and the retention of the population in mountainous areas.
"To the question 'Is there a Future for Troodos?' the answer depends on whether we invest in knowledge, cooperation and the sustainable use of our resources," said Ms. Panagiotou.
"It depends on whether we give rural people the tools and opportunities to stay in the countryside, but also on their own will to create, evolve and innovate," she added.
She also said that in Troodos, in addition to viticulture, an important pillar of mountain agriculture is the production of quality fruits and vegetables, a sector with substantial growth prospects.
The Minister made special reference to the fruits of deciduous trees. "The soil and climate conditions of the region are ideal for producing fruit of excellent quality," she noted.
Ms. Panagiotou underlined that "the strengthening of the agricultural sector in Troodos is not only an economic choice, but also a social and environmental investment".
"A key role in this direction is played by the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027, which provides for a total funding of €454 million," she said.
"Troodos can and should be an example of a mountainous region that combines agricultural production, agrotourism and sustainable development, with a European orientation and a local character," the Minister concluded.
CNA
