Nicosia: The agrometeorological services are being upgraded, becoming more frequent and more immediately available, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou, stated during a press conference. The announcement was made while presenting the new Agrometeorological Services of the Department of Meteorology, alongside the Director of the Meteorology Department, Filippos Tymvios.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Panayiotou emphasized the importance of delivering timely, reliable, and useful information to farmers. She revealed plans for a mobile application designed to provide immediate access to crucial information for producers. The upgraded Agrometeorological Bulletin and its accompanying digital platform-website are now available, addressing the growing needs of agriculture facing extreme weather and climate uncertainties.
The services cater to farmers, livestock breeders, agronomists, organized groups, and political authorities, covering a wide range of agricultural activities including planting, fertilization, irrigation, and protection from extreme weather. The Bulletin, now issued weekly, offers more timely data for agricultural planning.
For enhanced access, a new official website provides updates twice daily, offering forecasts and data in near real-time. The Minister highlighted the importance of delivering information to farmers precisely when needed. The services also include targeted forecasts per geographical area based on data from twelve key reference stations.
Notably, farmers now have specialized plant protection instructions for major crops in Cyprus, such as olives, vineyards, citrus fruits, potatoes, wheat, and barley. Practical advice is also offered based on upcoming weather conditions and specific crops.
Panayiotou underscored that a more detailed analysis of temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, and wind data will be available, along with early risk forecasts for frost, drought, and hail. She concluded by stating that efforts are ongoing to develop a mobile application to further streamline information access for farmers.
Director Filippos Tymvios remarked that the Agrometeorological Bulletin and website form the basis for future developments. Plans include expanding the station network, incorporating additional crops, and enhancing the Bulletin’s content. He also mentioned the promotion of artificial intelligence solutions to develop specialized forecast models with local characteristics.
Tymvios highlighted ongoing efforts to predict critical parameters like minimum temperature and automate frost warnings, which are crucial for safeguarding production.