Nicosia: Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides expressed confidence on Monday in the nation’s ability to enhance the primary sector’s contribution to Cyprus’ GDP, emphasizing its status as a top national priority. He highlighted the positive response from young farmers to Agriculture Ministry schemes as a key factor in achieving this goal. These remarks were made following his receipt of the Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organisation’s (CAPO) 2024 Annual Report from Commissioner Andreas Kyprianou.
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides noted the encouraging trend of youth returning to farming, bolstered by national and EU programs. As Cyprus prepares to assume the Presidency of the Council of the EU in under 45 days, he pointed out the upcoming significant negotiations related to the Multiannual Financial Framework and the Common Agricultural Policy.
The President acknowledged existing pressures on the EU budget due to defence, security, migration, and competitiveness needs but stated that Cyprus is committed to safeguarding allocations for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Cohesion Fund. He emphasized the importance of not missing out on any available EU funding, citing CAPO’s success in fund absorption. Additionally, he praised community festivals for their role in promoting Cypriot agricultural products and aiding export efforts.
Commissioner Kyprianou credited the government’s cooperation with achieving almost complete absorption of EU funds and noted an increase in farmer support, with a 20% rise in 2024 and a projected 25% increase in 2025. He reported that CAPO has distributed around £2.27 billion in subsidies over 21 years, with steady growth in recent years.
Kyprianou also pointed to the government’s prompt compensation for farmers affected by last summer’s fires and noted the sustained interest from young farmers in new subsidy schemes despite challenges like drought and water scarcity. He highlighted the high recognition of traditional Cypriot products in Europe, suggesting that strengthening exports could further bolster the rural economy and increase the primary sector’s GDP share.
He mentioned that CAPO boasts one of the EU’s lowest correction rates due to rigorous checks and announced that Cyprus will host the 2026 Conference of Directors of Agricultural Payments Organisations. At this event, Cyprus plans to address issues such as small farm sizes and high administrative costs, advocating for simpler procedures and improved access to EU funds.