Breaking news

Agriculture Minister announces €109.3 million strategy for primary sector

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 11, 2024

Cyprus has launched a new strategy for its agricultural sector, aiming at sustainable development, innovation, and economic resilience.

Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment Maria Panayiotou introduced the strategy at a press conference on 10 October, stressing that “it is not just an initiative, but a roadmap reflecting our vision for the future of Cypriot agriculture.”

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

The strategy, which includes 11 key actions with a budget of €109.3 million, covers the period from 2024 to 2028 and was approved by the Council of Ministers on October 2, 2024.

“Our aim is to establish a new model for the primary sector, ensuring sustainable production, economic support, and access to new technologies,” Panayiotou said. She noted the government’s commitment to providing solid tools and support for farmers, moving beyond emergency measures to a robust, development-oriented approach.

The new strategy aims to increase the contribution of the agricultural sector to Cyprus’ GDP, which currently stands at 1.8%. It will focus on expanding the sector’s capabilities while promoting sustainability and resilience in the face of ongoing challenges.

“We want to ensure the needs of the domestic market are met while promoting Cypriot products in new international markets,” Panayiotou added.

Key elements of the strategy include boosting the professional farming sector through priority measures and scoring systems, water management interventions to combat drought, and the adoption of smart farming technologies. The strategy will also address market gaps by supporting the use of untapped agricultural land and promoting cooperation among producer groups.

Panayiotou emphasised that the new strategy would support the long-term competitiveness of Cyprus’ agricultural sector, focusing on high-quality, affordable products for consumers and fair incomes for farmers.

The actions in the strategy will be funded through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and national resources, with the University of Cyprus’ Economic Research Centre tasked with evaluating its overall impact on the economy. The 11 actions cover areas such as green competitiveness, livestock sector support, new financing tools for agriculture, quality certification for Cypriot products, and risk management in agricultural production.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

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.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

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.