"Our goal is to foster conditions that will enable farmers to invest, modernize their farms, and meet the growing demands of our times," said Christos Senekis, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Environment, at the 2nd Kolotzi Festival in Moutoulla.
Mr. Senekis referred to the policy of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment, with key priorities being the strengthening of the primary sector and the revitalization of rural areas.
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An important tool in this direction, he said, is the Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy 2023–2027, with a total budget of 454 million euros.
“The strong interest shown in the recent call for proposals is an encouraging sign of producers’ willingness to expand their operations. For example, under the Major Investment Plan, the total amount of subsidies requested reached 200 million euros, while under the Intervention for the Initial Establishment of Young Farmers, the corresponding amount reached 9.7 million euros,” he noted.
The Minister of Agriculture also said that, while acknowledging at the same time that access to financing often constitutes a significant obstacle to the implementation of investments, we have moved forward, in collaboration with commercial banks, to create a Financing Tool for the primary sector.
“Through more favorable lending terms and simplified procedures, we aim to make it easier for agricultural businesses to turn their investment plans into productive reality,” he noted.
In addition, Mr. Senekis reported that in 2026, targeted interventions totaling 2.5 million euros were implemented, focusing on the cost of fertilizers, agricultural supplies, and agricultural diesel. Last Tuesday, October 13, the Council of Ministers approved, following a proposal from our Ministry, emergency financial support totaling 4.6 million euros for producers affected by the drought of 2025.
Regarding water security, Mr. Senekis noted that “we are promoting a comprehensive plan, with projects totaling over €200 million by 2030, which includes expanding desalination to meet water supply needs and freeing up valuable reserves for irrigation, the broader use of reclaimed water, the reduction of water losses, and the upgrading of water infrastructure.”
He noted that, in response to a request from the Moutoulla Community Council and the Irrigation System Committee, the Ministry will provide financial assistance in the amount of €5,000 to cover the costs of restoring the community’s irrigation system, while it will support the 2nd Kolotzi Festival with additional financial assistance of €2,000.
This festival, the Minister said, is a celebration that transforms rural heritage into a source of creativity and outreach.
“A familiar product of the Cypriot land, kolotzi, serves as the inspiration for a celebration that evokes flavors and memories, highlights the value of local production, and brings to the forefront the relationship between people and their land,” he said.
In conclusion, Mr. Senekis noted that Moutoullas reminds us that the true wealth of the countryside lies in its people; in the knowledge they possess and in the ingenuity with which they transform the earth’s bounty into something creative.
Source: CNA
