In its decisions, the Council of Ministers approved two plans for additional financial support for professional farmers, totaling 1.5 million euros, and to allocate an additional 3.5 million cubic meters of water for irrigation through the end of 2026, as announced last night by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment, Christos Senekis, last night while speaking at the 21st Pan-Cyprian Pomegranate Festival, held in Ormideia’s Central Square.
The Minister spoke about Ormideia’s long-standing connection to pomegranate cultivation, as well as the challenges producers face today.
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As he noted, tens of thousands of pomegranate trees stretch across the Ormideia plain, while systematic cultivation currently covers approximately 350 to 400 decares.
According to Mr. Senekis, Ormideia’s connection to pomegranates runs deep, as export activity has been documented since the early 20th century. In fact, as he noted, in 1934, a shipment of 25,000 okas of pomegranates was recorded as having been sent to England—a fact that, as he noted, demonstrates the long history of the region’s outward-looking production.
The Minister also emphasized that the tradition is evolving, noting the development of products such as syrups, liqueurs, and pomegranate soujouk, which can create new opportunities for producers and the local economy.
He made special mention of the pressures currently facing the agricultural sector, highlighting rising production costs, water issues, and the need for investment and modernization.
As he noted, just in the last few days, the Cabinet approved two plans for additional financial support for professional farmers, totaling 1.5 million euros, to address rising production costs.
Mr. Senekis emphasized, however, that support cannot be limited to emergency aid and referred to the Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy 2023–2027, with total funding of 454 million euros.
He added that the call for proposals under the Large-Scale Investment Program, which was completed last June, attracted grant requests totaling approximately 200 million euros, while more than 250 applications were submitted for the First Installation of Young Farmers program.
At the same time, he announced that work is underway to create a Financial Instrument for the primary sector, aimed at facilitating access to financing on more favorable terms for farmers and agricultural businesses.
The Minister also noted that on October 8, consultations will begin on the Common Agricultural Policy after 2027, with the aim, as he said, of giving a voice to the agricultural community and addressing the real needs and specific characteristics of Cypriot agriculture.
Mr. Senekis placed particular emphasis on the issue of water, describing it as one of the most pressing challenges for Ormideia and, more broadly, for regions with intensive agricultural activity.
As he noted, a decision was made this week to allocate an additional 3.5 million cubic meters of water for irrigation for the remainder of 2026.
Of this amount, 2 million cubic meters are for fall seasonal crops, including potatoes, 1 million cubic meters for tree crops, and 500,000 cubic meters for the Paphos Major Irrigation Project.
The Minister described the decision as a much-needed respite for producers, clarifying, however, that the additional water allocations address immediate needs and do not constitute a long-term solution to the water crisis.
For the period 2024–2030, he noted, projects totaling over 200 million euros are planned for desalination, the reuse of reclaimed water, the reduction of water losses, and the upgrading of water distribution networks.
At the same time, the four new permanent desalination plants currently in the pipeline will add a capacity of 180,000 cubic meters per day.
The goal, as Mr. Senekis, is to gradually reduce dependence on rainfall and strengthen water security, while ensuring better conditions for agricultural production.
The Minister also emphasized the need for rational water use, noting that water security depends not only on the amount of water that can be produced, but also on how effectively the existing supply is managed.
The Festival, now in its 21st year, was organized by the Ormideia Community Council and the community’s two cultural associations, “TO RODI” and the Ormideia Cultural Association, and has established itself as an important institution for the community.
The festival program began with a traditional parade through the community’s main streets and continued with a traditional music performance by the Paspartou Band, followed by a concert featuring Filippos Ktenas and Rena Andreou. The dance groups of Ormideia’s two Cultural Associations also participated in the artistic program, performing traditional and folk dances.
Stalls were set up on the grounds offering pomegranate-based products and traditional treats, including natural pomegranate juice, fresh pomegranates, granita, cocktails, palouze, siousiouko, and loukoumia, as well as street food vendors.
In his own remarks, Ormideia Community Leader Antonis Fotis noted that it has been 21 years since the festival’s inception, describing the Festival as an important institution for the community and an event that holds a special place among Cyprus’s cultural activities.
Mr. Fotis emphasized that the pomegranate is part of Ormideia’s identity and a symbol of joy, fertility, and abundance, but also of the hard work, patience, and perseverance of the people who cultivate it.
At the same time, he praised the collaboration between the two Cultural Associations, the Community Council members, the Community Council staff, and the volunteers for organizing this year’s Festival.
Source: CNA
