Cyprus Government has approved an additional €2 million to ensure that all young people who have expressed interest in entering the primary sector can benefit from a new support scheme, President Nikos Christodoulides announced on Saturday.
Speaking at the 10th Agricultural Culture Festival organised by the Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organisation (CAPO) in Protaras, President Christodoulides also said that more than €20 million had already been paid to address the impact of foot-and-mouth disease, while €4.6 million had been secured to support farmers affected by drought.
A further €1 million scheme has also been approved to address rising costs and additional needs in the primary sector.
“There is strong and growing interest, particularly among the younger generation, in becoming active in the primary sector,” the President said, assuring them that the state would support their efforts.
He added the additional funding was needed because the resources initially allocated under the new scheme had been exhausted. “These €2 million are being approved by our Government so that all young people who have expressed interest can become beneficiaries,” he said.
President Christodoulides acknowledged the challenges facing agriculture, including climate change, the green transition, the protection of natural resources and growing demands for safe, high-quality food.
The Government's responsibility, he said, was to turn these challenges into opportunities for a more modern, competitive and sustainable sector.
He described the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) as the main tool available to strengthen agriculture, noting that Cyprus's CAP Strategic Plan is backed by €454 million in funding.
Formal discussions on the next CAP programming period are due to begin on October 8, he said, adding that Cyprus would seek an agreement that reflects the needs of the farming community.
The President also highlighted the financial support provided in response to external pressures, including the war in Ukraine and developments in the Middle East, which have driven up fuel, fertiliser and other agricultural input costs.
The Government had initially introduced a €2.5 million support scheme and recently approved a further €1 million in response to additional needs.
The President said the revised national strategy for the primary sector covers 11 areas, including technology, attracting young farmers, agricultural education, ensuring fair and stable incomes, and improving the quality and market availability of agricultural products.
He also noted that CAPO had distributed more than €2.5 billion in grants to farmers since its establishment 22 years ago, adding that Cyprus was recording the highest absorption rates among EU member states this year.
