The positive prospects for the registration of Cyprus’ “red potato”, as a Protected Geographical Indication, was the latest development announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Kostas Kadis, during a press conference where he took stock of his work at the Ministry during his five-year tenure, from 2018 to 2023. He also referred to the upcoming challenges for his successor and the new Government, as Cypriots go to the polls next Sunday to elect the country’s next President.
Kadis said that the description of the “Cyprus red potato” has been published in Cyprus, which is a decisive step for its registration. As he said, objections must be raised within a period of one month and then an application to the European Commission will follow. According to the Minister the goal must be achieved by the end of the year, allowing the second most exportable product of Cyprus to deal with the competition abroad.
Regarding the challenges for the next Minister of Agriculture and the new Government, Kadis said that there will be challenges concerning the management of halloumi as a product with protected designation of origin (PDO) from now on, due to issues with quotas. He noted that with the actions taken at the European level, the mandatory 50-50% quota, concerning the proportion of cow and sheep/goat milk, will not take effect until 2029 and he said that there will be pressure not to increase that percentage. Kadis said that the new Minister should issue decrees until 2029 for a gradual increase of 5% per year of the proportion of sheep/goat milk used in halloumi.
The registration of Cyprus’ tradition cheese as PDO in 2021, was described by the Minister as a significant development with “highly encouraging results.”
At the same time, he said that the new Minister will face many challenges regarding waste management, a particularly important issue, as he said, where there have been failures in the past. He noted that two infrastructures in Pentakomo and Koshi should be built and the new “Pay as you throw” legislation should be implemented.
As a third challenge, the Minister referred to the need to better equip the Ministry with means that will allow it to better deal with the effects of climate change, especially on the issue of wildfires. He also referred to the need of implementation of the big water projects that are planned.
Regarding the local plan of Akamas, aiming to ensure the protection of an area of unique natural environment, the Minister said that it is expected at the Environment Department of his Ministry within the next few days. The Department will evaluate it and proceed with its publication.
Referring to the work of the Ministry over the last five years, Kadis said that it has served the vision to make Cyprus more sustainable and “greener”, through the implementation of the principles of sustainable development in the agricultural sector and sustainable management of natural resources, in accordance to the basic principles of the EU Green Deal.
In the field of rural development, he said that the Ministry’s actions focused on improving conditions for farmers, increasing their income and making the agricultural sector more competitive and more environmentally friendly.
Through the Rural Development Program (RDP), he said that more than 180 million euros have been allocated for these purposes in the agricultural sector and 240 million euros have been allocated to farmers as hectare subsidies, thus improving their income.
Regarding the protection and welfare of animals, he said that the Ministry has developed important initiatives aimed at creating an integrated institutional framework.
In the field of fisheries, marine research and blue growth, he said that the Ministry’s efforts were focused on the economic and social well-being of Cyprus’ fishing sector, in a clean, healthy and productive marine environment.
In the field of water policy, he said that activities focused on meeting water needs in a sustainable manner on the one hand and ensuring the quality and protection of water resources and the environment on the other.
In the field of the environment, he stressed the importance of the creation of a new Directorate -General of Environment, under the Ministry. He also said that the strategy and action plan for biodiversity in Cyprus, with a time horizon of 2030 and a budget of around 30 million euros, was approved and started to be implemented.
He finally said that the top action regarding dealing with the climate change was the initiative by the President of Cyprus for the coordination of the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region and the Middle East. As he said, more than 240 scientists participated in that initiative, under the coordination of the Cyprus Institute, and their suggestions, in the form of an action plan, were adopted at a conference of the region’s leaders, which took place in Egypt in 2022.
Source: Cyprus News Agency