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Inflation In Cyprus Climbs To 3.1% In December, Outpacing Eurozone Average

Annual inflation in Cyprus is projected to rise to 3.1% in December 2024, a noticeable increase from 2.2% in November, according to a flash estimate by Eurostat, the European Union’s statistical office. This figure surpasses the eurozone’s average annual inflation rate, which is expected to edge up to 2.4% in December, compared to 2.2% in November.

Key Drivers Of Eurozone Inflation

Breaking down the eurozone inflation data, services are anticipated to record the highest annual rate at 4.0% in December, slightly up from 3.9% in November. Other contributing factors include:

  • Food, Alcohol & Tobacco: Stable at 2.7% compared to November.
  • Non-Energy Industrial Goods: A minor decrease to 0.5%, from 0.6% in November.
  • Energy: A significant recovery, moving to 0.1% in December after recording a deflationary rate of -2.0% in November.

A Closer Look At Cyprus

While eurozone inflation remains relatively subdued, Cyprus faces a sharper increase. The island’s higher inflation trajectory underscores the need for vigilance in monitoring price trends, particularly as global energy and service costs play a critical role in shaping inflationary pressures.

Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

Cyprus remains one of the European Union’s least digitised agricultural economies, with just 1% of farms using precision farming technologies in 2023, according to Eurostat.

The findings come as the EU continues to encourage the adoption of digital tools aimed at improving agricultural productivity, efficiency and sustainability.

Internet Access Expands, But Digital Uptake Lags

Internet access has improved across the bloc, although adoption remains uneven. Eurostat found that 43% of EU farms had internet access in 2023, with northern and central European countries leading the way.

Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Austria all reported internet access rates above 90%.

Greater connectivity, however, has not translated into widespread digital adoption. Farm management information systems, which help farmers manage day-to-day operations, were used by only about 11% of EU farms. France was a notable exception, with around 60% of farms using the technology.

Precision Farming Concentrated In Larger Operations

Robotics adoption also remained relatively limited, with only about 7% of EU farms using robotic technologies. Overall, around 18% of farms with utilised agricultural area employed at least one precision farming technology or practice in 2023.

These included robotics for plant protection, band spraying, variable-rate application, precision crop monitoring and soil analysis. Despite representing fewer than one in five farms, these holdings accounted for around 44% of the EU’s utilised agricultural area.

The figures suggest that precision farming remains concentrated among larger agricultural businesses, where investment in digital technologies is typically easier to support.

Cyprus Lags Behind EU Leaders

Luxembourg, Finland and Estonia recorded the highest shares of utilised agricultural area managed by farms using precision farming technologies, each exceeding 75%.

At the other end of the ranking, Cyprus recorded just 1%, while Greece and Romania reported between 10% and 15%. The results indicate that Cyprus remains at an early stage of digital adoption in agriculture, even as precision farming becomes more widespread across parts of the European Union.

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