Our priority is to support our rural areas and improve the quality of life of our farmers, said the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Dr. Maria Panagiotou, in her greeting at the revival of the Famagusta Orange Festival, which is under the auspices of the President of the Republic.
Saying that the Ministry of Agriculture recognizes the difficult conditions faced by farmers, the Minister stressed that "that is why our priority is to support our rural areas and improve the quality of life of our farmers by ensuring a fairer income, supporting the viability of farms, increasing the efficiency and quality of the products produced, enhancing innovation and smart farming".
"A key role in this direction is played by the implementation of the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023-2027, with a budget of €454 million, which links competitiveness with sustainability and environmental adaptation", the Minister continued.
Ms. Panagiotou noted that the announcements 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. The deadline for submitting applications is until May 29, 2026.
The CAP Strategic Plan, she pointed out, also gives opportunities for local development through the LEADER intervention, on the basis of which local development strategies are designed and financed. Referring to the provinces of Larnaca and Famagusta, she said that the Local Action Group "Development Company of Larnaca and Famagusta Provinces Ltd" is active and for the financing of its own strategy in the 2023-27 programming period, the amount of €3 million has been allocated. .
As she mentioned, the announcement for the creation and modernization of agritourism businesses, including accommodation and small catering areas, is currently open, with a total budget of €650,000.
Also open is the announcement concerning the support for the organization of cultural events and the utilization of the know-how/experience of rural residents, the promotion of local history, culture and tradition, with a total budget of €100,000.
According to the Minister, in the immediate future, through LEADER, actions related to the construction of small-scale public infrastructure, as well as the implementation of cooperation actions, are expected to be announced.
The support of the agricultural world is not limited to investments, said Ms. Panagiotou, noting that it also concerns the formation of a fairer, more transparent and more functional market for the producer himself.
"And precisely because this is our priority, we encourage the creation and operation of Producer Groups and Organizations. Through their proper functioning and the reduction of intermediaries in the supply chain, the bargaining power of producers is strengthened and fairer terms in the market are ensured. In the province of Famagusta, three recognized Organizations of Fruit and Vegetable Producers are already active, while another Producer Group is in the process of recognition", noted the Minister.
In addition, she said that "we have also proceeded with the creation of the e-Kofini application, a modern information tool, which provides both producers and consumers with a clear picture of prices at all stages of the market. At the same time, we are also implementing legislation to address Unfair Commercial Practices in the agricultural and food supply chain."
Noting that the continuous periods of drought are testing our agricultural world and highlighting water as one of the most critical factors for the future of agriculture, she said that precisely for this reason, from the first moment we proceeded with a targeted planning that enhances water security and water sufficiency both in the water supply and for our irrigators.
She noted that from 2023 the practice of backup operation was terminated, the units were put into full capacity, while within a short period of time our country went from five to eight desalination plants in operation, with one more to be added in the next period.
On the basis of this planning, she continued, "we are enhancing the water supply through desalination, reducing dependence on weather conditions and creating the conditions for better management of available water resources. At the same time, we are investing in the maximum utilization of recovered water and in the modernization of irrigation infrastructure."
"Our goal is to gradually strengthen the security of water supply, in order to create more favorable conditions for the support of agricultural activity and the rational utilization of reserves," she stressed.
In the province of Famagusta, Ms. Panagiotou said, water sufficiency is a critical priority, as it is directly linked to the quality of life, agricultural activity and tourism development of the area.
The Minister noted that in this context, the creation of a permanent desalination plant in Ayia Napa / Ayia Thekla area, with a capacity of 30,000 cubic meters per day, with the possibility of expanding it to 40,000 cubic meters / day, is progressing, further strengthening the water security of free Famagusta.
"I should note that all the necessary studies and procedures are being promoted, so that the project can proceed quickly, but also with full respect for the environmental and technical data," she added.
At the same time, she said, other water infrastructure projects are being implemented in the free province of Famagusta, one of them is the Kokkinokremmos project, which enhances the security of water supply and meets the needs of the Municipalities and Communities of the area, while improving the reliability of the drinking water supply system both in the tourist areas and in the communities of Kokkinochoria and the province of Larnaca.
Ms. Panagiotou stated that we are also proceeding with the improvement of solid waste management, with the expansion of the Green Points network in the province of Famagusta, contributing to the reduction of uncontrolled disposal, the strengthening of recycling and the cultivation of environmental awareness.
In the Province of Famagusta, said the Minister. the creation of Green Points in the Community of Avgorou and the Municipality of Ayia Napa has already been completed, while in the Municipalities of Sotiras and Deryneia their completion is expected in May and September 2026 respectively.
At the same time, she said, special emphasis is placed on reducing water losses, through targeted interventions in the water supply networks, noting that in this context, by decision of the Council of Ministers dated March 26, 2025, emergency state funding has been approved for projects to reduce losses in the water supply networks of the Provincial Local Government Organizations.
For the province of Famagusta, the financing of the project to repair faults in the water supply network of the areas of Paralimni-Deryneia and Ayia Napa is included, amounting to €2.3 million, under the Cohesion Policy Program "THALIA 2021-2027", she reminded.
She said that the recent political agreement on the amendment of the Common Market Organization proves that the European Union can provide substantial solutions to the real needs of the rural world.
She stressed the contribution of the Cyprus Presidency, saying that a fairer and more functional framework for market management has been formed. For the farmers of Cyprus, she said, this translates into greater security in transactions, strengthening their collective strength and upgrading the value of local products.
"In a market where small and family farms are the backbone of production, such interventions substantially boost income and create more stable prospects for the future," the Minister said.
She said that the Informal Council of Ministers of Agriculture hosted in Cyprus on May 4 serves the same direction, focusing on strengthening the resilience of European agriculture against the climate crisis and modern challenges.
Referring to the revival of the Orange Festival, she said that it is an act of remembrance and continuity, which confirms that the identity of this place remains alive, despite the conditions of occupation.
"Today, for the first time since the tragic events of 1974, the Orange Festival returns, not to its natural place - unfortunately, but to our hearts, keeping our memory and identity alive. Before the Turkish invasion, it was one of the most brilliant and important cultural institutions in Cyprus, highlighting the city as the epicenter of citrus cultivation on the island," she concluded.
