Cypriot potato farmers are staging vigorous protests, with agricultural organizations standing by their side. At a meeting, it was decided that representatives would participate in the consultations scheduled with the Minister of Agriculture and the Department of Forests in the coming days, and if there is no positive outcome, they will stage a joint protest.

Andreas Karyos, President of the Pan-Cyprian Potato Producers’ Organization, explained that the entire primary sector is asking the government to address three long-standing problems and demands:

• Water shortages
• High production costs due to electricity and fuel
• Utilization of fallow land

Mr. Karyos noted that over the past two years, farmers have not received any water for open-field crops, while the issue of arable and forested land subleased to farmers remains unresolved.

The President of the POF explained that, at present, the date and location of the protest have not been decided, but it will definitely involve tractors.