The Troodos winegrowers are sounding the alarm about the future of viticulture in the Pitsillia region, calling for financial support from the government, to address the damage they have suffered due to weather conditions and diseases. On Monday morning, they gathered at a vineyard in the Kyperounta area, in the presence of representatives from agricultural organizations, where a vineyard owner stated that the destruction rate had reached 85% for the Mavro and Xynisteri grape varieties.
In his remarks, the Secretary-General of the Union of Cypriot Farmers, Panikos Hambas, stated that “the situation is tragic” and spoke of reduced production, which is expected to affect both wine production and other traditional products, such as sioutzioukos, palouzes, zivania, and wine-cured meats.
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He noted that, jointly, the agricultural organizations sent two letters to the President of the Republic, “in which we presented well-documented arguments that the funding should be increased—beyond what the EU has provided—to cover all sectors, and this must be done in a targeted manner.”
The proposal, he continued, concerns support not only for professionals “who are the foundation of production,” as well as small-scale farmers “who are the heroes protecting the oxygen we breathe, because they are the ones protecting the Troodos Mountains from wildfires by cultivating the vineyards.”
Mr. Hambas noted that following the latest letter to the President of the Republic, “in a day or two we will contact his office to see exactly how this proposal is being implemented, as it contributes to the rational development of the economy.”
Responding to a question, he stated that “it is clear that the new programming period will be a major blow to all EU farmers” and noted that at the same time, “regarding the Mercosur agreement—which is yet another problem—we say that each member state is now given the opportunity to pursue its own policy through targeted support measures.” “Because Cyprus is frequently affected by droughts, the President must implement what was announced in Brussels, but in accordance with the measures and conditions prevailing on the island,” he added.
For his part, the District Secretary of the Limassol Panagrotikos, Eugenios Eleftheriou, said that “we are sounding the alarm” and that “people—the winegrowers in the Limassol region—must be helped because things are getting worse and worse.”
“The government must step in to help—whether through EU funds or any other means—to provide financial support to our producers,” he added.
Furthermore, Theocharis Theocharous, President of the Troodos Producers’ Association, emphasized that, year after year, agricultural production is declining dramatically and that, despite the government’s announcements, “our incomes aren’t increasing in the slightest.”
“The challenges of mountainous terrain do not allow us to produce goods as easily as they do in other parts of Europe with the same products, so the government must address the issue of mountainous regions, otherwise we won’t be around much longer,” he added.
Kyperounta Community Leader Michalis Hatzimichael said, for his part, that the state must support the young people of the Troodos and Pitsilia regions, who have decided to pursue careers in rural areas, thereby keeping the mountain communities alive.
“If this time the government does not support all these young people—who, fortunately for us, have decided, despite all the difficulties, to remain in rural areas— I think it will spell the end, not only of rural life but also of our villages,” he warned.
Frequent rains, combined with high temperatures, have devastated agricultural production, he emphasized, noting that “the constant rise in the cost of fuel and electricity” is “making life in the region unbearable.”
Vineyard owner and winemaker Christodoulos Xenophontos stated that, due to the weather conditions prevailing in recent months, the vineyards have been destroyed, with increased humidity bringing diseases that, despite their efforts, the winegrowers have been unable to combat.
He mentioned a destruction rate of up to 85% for the Mavro and Xynisteri grape varieties, noted the rise in diesel prices, and emphasized that “All of this has brought us to our knees, and we expect the government to stand by us.”
Vine grower and winemaker Giorgos Christodoulou stated, for his part, that the vine is a plant that protects us and offers us many things, pointing out that “during the Limassol fires, the flames stopped at the vineyards.”
He also expressed the view that “people must be subsidized to maintain the vineyards in a condition where they can protect us, because next time we’ll lose Troodos.”
ELAM MP Polys Anogiriatis expressed his support for the Pitsilia vine growers in his remarks, saying that “We are here today to defend the just demands of the region’s winegrowers.” Mr. Anogiriatis called on the government to provide tangible support to those affected.
The President of the Agricultural, "Agronomos," Andreas Christofias, noting that “neither wine nor its byproducts can be produced.” Calling on the government to support winegrowers, he said that the study estimates compensation at 220 euros per decare and pointed out that the fact that production costs are four times higher in mountainous areas than in lowland areas must be taken into account.
Source: KYPE
